Polypeptides having Mannanase Activity and Polynucleotides Encoding Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to polypeptides having mannanase activity, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding modules, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding modules. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding modules.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/649,368filed on Mar. 20, 2020 and published as 2020/0270548 on Aug. 27, 2020,(now allowed) which is 35 U.S.C. 371 national application ofinternational application no. PCT/EP2018/076799 filed Oct. 2, 2018 andpublished as WO2019/068713 on Apr. 11, 2019, which claims priority orthe benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of European application no. 17194319.4filed Oct. 2, 2017, the contents of which are fully incorporated hereinby reference.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form,which is incorporated herein by reference. The name of the filecontaining the Sequence Listing is SQ.XML, which was created on Jul. 11,2023 and has 34,455 bytes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to polypeptides having mannanase activity,and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention alsorelates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprisingthe polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using thepolypeptides.

Description of the Related Art

Mannans are polysaccharides with a backbone of p-1,4-linkedD-mannopyranosyl residues, which can contain galactose or acetylsubstitutions and may have glucose residues in the backbone. The mainenzyme type participating in the degradation of mannans areendo-1,4-p-mannanases (EC 3.2.1.78), which hydrolyze the internalglycoside bonds in the mannan backbone.

Mannans are a type of hemicellulose representing up to 25% of wood dryweight in softwoods, but are also found in other plant material,especially in a variety of seeds. The mannan containing guar gum is usedas a stabilizer in many food products.

Thus it could be advantageous to use endomannanases in applicationswhere mannan needs to be degraded. Examples of where mannanases could beused are in detergents to remove mannan containing stains, in theproduction of bioethanol from softwood (Vernai et al, (2011)“Synergistic action of xylanase and mannanase improves the totalhydrolysis of softwood”, Bioresource tech., 102(19), pp. 9096-104) andpalm kernel press cake (Jørgensen et al, (2010) “Production of ethanoland feed by high dry matter hydrolysis and fermentation of palm kernelpress cake”, Applied Biochem. Biotech., 161(1-8), pp. 318-32), for theimprovement of animal feed (Cai, et al, (2011), “Acidic β-mannanase fromPenicillium pinophilum C1: Cloning, characterization and assessment ofits potential for animal feed application”, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 112(6),pp. 551-557) and in the hydrolysis of coffee extract (Nunes et al,(2006), “Characterization of Galactomannan Derivatives in Roasted CoffeeBeverages”, J. Agricultural Food Chem., 54(9), pp. 3428-3439).

According to CAZy (www.cazy.org), endo-1,4-β-mannanases have been foundin glycoside hydrolyase families 5, 26 and 113. The present inventionprovides polypeptides of glycoside hydrolyase family 26 having mannanaseactivity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides that are highlyactive in degrading different types of mannan, and therefore could beused in the aforementioned applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to polypeptides having mannanase activityselected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 91% sequence identity to SEQ        ID NO: 4;    -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has mannanase        activity and comprises one or more substitutions, and/or one or        more deletions, and/or one or more insertions or any combination        thereof in 1 to 29 positions;    -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b) and a        N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;    -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b) and a        N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10 amino acids,        e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino acids; and    -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having mannanase        activity and having at least 90% of the length of the mature        polypeptide.

The present invention further relates to detergent compositionscomprising a surfactant and a polypeptide having mannanase activity,wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81% sequence identity to SEQ        ID NO: 3;    -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has mannanase        activity and comprises one or more substitutions, and/or one or        more deletions, and/or one or more insertions or any combination        thereof in 1 to 50 positions;    -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b) and a        N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;    -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b) and a        N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10 amino acids,        e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino acids; and    -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having mannanase        activity and having at least 90% of the length of the mature        polypeptide.

The present invention further relates to granules comprising a coreparticle and one or more coatings, wherein the granule comprises apolypeptide having mannanase activity as defined above, and liquidcompositions comprising a polyol and a polypeptide having mannanaseactivity, wherein the polypeptide is as defined above. The inventionfurther relates to uses of the peptide in various applications such asdegrading mannan, laundering, washing, cleaning, feed, food, extractingcoffee, degrading cellulosic material, producing a fermentation product,isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides of the invention,recombinant host cells and method of producing the polypeptide of theinvention.

Overview of Sequence Listing

-   -   SEQ ID NO: 1 is the DNA sequence of the native GH26 mannanase        comprising a CBM35 domain as isolated from a strain of        Paenibacillus woosongensis.    -   SEQ ID NO: 2 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID        NO: 1.    -   SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence of the mature GH26        mannanase isolated from a strain of Paenibacillus woosongensis        with CBM35 domain.    -   SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence of the truncated GH26        mannanase isolated from a strain of Paenibacillus woosongensis        missing the CBM35 domain.    -   SEQ ID NO: 5 is a construct DNA sequence of the GH26 mannanase        comprising a CBM35 wherein the native secretion signal was        removed and a 6×His tag was added directly on the C-terminal of        the protein.    -   SEQ ID NO: 6 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID        NO: 5.    -   SEQ ID NO: 7 is a construct DNA sequence of the truncated GH26        mannanase isolated from a strain of Paenibacillus woosongensis        missing the CBM35 domain and a 6×His tag was added directly on        the C-terminal of the protein.    -   SEQ ID NO: 8 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID        NO: 7.    -   SEQ ID NO: 9 is the DNA sequence of the native GH26 mannanase        comprising a CBM35 domain as isolated from a strain of        Paenibacillus ihumii.    -   SEQ ID NO: 10 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID        NO: 9.    -   SEQ ID NO: 11 is the amino acid sequence of the mature GH26        mannanase isolated from a strain of Paenibacillus ihumii with        CBM35 domain.    -   SEQ ID NO: 12 is a construct DNA sequence of the GH26 mannanase        from a strain of Paenibacillus ihumii comprising a CBM35 domain        wherein the native secretion signal was replaced with a Bacillus        licheniformis secretion signal and a HPHPHPHP tag was added        directly on the C-terminal of the protein.    -   SEQ ID NO: 13 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID        NO: 12.    -   SEQ ID NO: 14 is the amino acid sequence of a Bacillus clausii        secretion signal.    -   SEQ ID NO: 15 is the HPHPHPHP tag.    -   SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17 and SEQ ID NO: 18 are N-terminal        sequences determined by EDMAN degradation of the GH26 mannanase        from a strain of Paenibacillus woosongensis.

Definitions

In accordance with the detailed description, the following abbreviationsand definitions apply. Note that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “an enzyme” includes a plurality of suchenzymes, and reference to “the dosage” includes reference to one or moredosages and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, andso forth.

Auxiliary Activity 9: The term “Auxiliary Activity 9” or “AA9” means apolypeptide classified as a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (Quinlanet al., 2011, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 208: 15079-15084; Phillips etal., 2011, ACS Chem. Biol. 6: 1399-1406; Lin et al., 2012, Structure 20:1051-1061). AA9 polypeptides were formerly classified into the glycosidehydrolase Family 61 (GH61) according to Henrissat, 1991, Biochem. J.280: 309-316, and Henrissat and Bairoch, 1996, Biochem. J. 316: 695-696.

Allelic variant: The term “allelic variant” means any of two or morealternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus.Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result inpolymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no changein the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having alteredamino acid sequences. An allelic variant of a polypeptide is apolypeptide encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

Biofilm: The term “biofilm” means any group of microorganisms in whichcells stick to each other on a surface, such as a textile, dishware orhard surface. These adherent cells are frequently embedded within aself-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). BiofilmEPS is a polymeric conglomeration generally composed of extracellularDNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. Biofilms may form on living ornon-living surfaces. The microbial cells growing in a biofilm arephysiologically distinct from planktonic cells of the same organism,which, by contrast, are single-cells that may float or swim in a liquidmedium.

Bacteria living in a biofilm usually have significantly differentproperties from free-floating bacteria of the same species, as the denseand protected environment of the film allows them to cooperate andinteract in various ways. One effect of this environment is increasedresistance to detergents and antibiotics, as the dense extracellularmatrix and the outer layer of cells protect the interior of thecommunity.

On laundry biofilm producing bacteria can be found among the followingspecies: Acinetobacter sp., Aeromicrobium sp., Brevundimonas sp.,Microbacterium sp., Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcusepidermidis, and Stenotrophomonas sp.

Carbohydrate binding module: The term “carbohydrate binding module”means the region within a carbohydrate-active enzyme that providescarbohydrate-binding activity (Boraston et al., 2004, Biochem. J. 383:769-781). A majority of known carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) arecontiguous amino acid sequences with a discrete fold. The carbohydratebinding module (CBM) is typically found either at the N-terminal or atthe C-terminal extremity of an enzyme. Some CBMs are known to havespecificity for cellulose. In one embodiment, the CBM is a family 35 CBM(Pfam PF16990) such as that disclosed in Tunnicliffe R B, Bolam DN, PellG, Gilbert H J, Williamson MP; J Mol Biol. 2005; 347:287-296.

Catalytic domain: The term “catalytic domain” means the region of anenzyme containing the catalytic machinery of the enzyme.

cDNA: The term “cDNA” means a DNA molecule that can be prepared byreverse transcription from a mature, spliced, mRNA molecule obtainedfrom a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell. cDNA lacks intron sequences thatmay be present in the corresponding genomic DNA. The initial, primaryRNA transcript is a precursor to mRNA that is processed through a seriesof steps, including splicing, before appearing as mature spliced mRNA.

Cellulolytic enzyme or cellulase: The term “cellulolytic enzyme” or“cellulase” means one or more (e.g., several) enzymes that hydrolyze acellulosic material. Such enzymes include endoglucanase(s),cellobiohydrolase(s), beta-glucosidase(s), or combinations thereof. Thetwo basic approaches for measuring cellulolytic enzyme activity include:(1) measuring the total cellulolytic enzyme activity, and (2) measuringthe individual cellulolytic enzyme activities (endoglucanases,cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases) as reviewed in Zhang et al.,2006, Biotechnology Advances 24: 452-481. Total cellulolytic enzymeactivity can be measured using insoluble substrates, including WhatmanNo 1 filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose, bacterial cellulose,algal cellulose, cotton, pretreated lignocellulose, etc. The most commontotal cellulolytic activity assay is the filter paper assay usingWhatman No 1 filter paper as the substrate. The assay was established bythe International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) (Ghose,1987, Pure Appl. Chem. 59: 257-68).

Cellulolytic enzyme activity can be determined by measuring the increasein production/release of sugars during hydrolysis of a cellulosicmaterial by cellulolytic enzyme(s) under the following conditions: 1-50mg of cellulolytic enzyme protein/g of cellulose in pretreated cornstover (PCS) (or other pretreated cellulosic material) for 3-7 days at asuitable temperature such as 40° C.-80° C., e.g., 500C, 550C, 600C,650C, or 70° C., and a suitable pH such as 4-9, e.g., 5.0, 5.5, 6.0,6.5, or 7.0, compared to a control hydrolysis without addition ofcellulolytic enzyme protein. Typical conditions are 1 ml reactions,washed or unwashed PCS, 5% insoluble solids (dry weight), 50 mM sodiumacetate pH 5, 1 mM MnSO₄, 50° C., 55° C., or 60° C., 72 hours, sugaranalysis by AMINEX® HPX-87H column (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.,Hercules, CA, USA).

Chimeric polypeptide: The term “chimeric polypeptide” means apolypeptide having mannanase activity whose composition is generated byreplacing a sequence of amino acids from one polypeptide havingmannanase activity with those from homologous positions of one or moreother polypeptides having mannanase activity.

Coding sequence: The term “coding sequence” means a polynucleotide,which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. Theboundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an openreading frame, which begins with a start codon such as ATG, GTG, or TTGand ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG, or TGA. The coding sequencemay be a genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA, or a combination thereof.

Control sequences: The term “control sequences” means nucleic acidsequences necessary for expression of a polynucleotide encoding a maturepolypeptide of the present invention. Each control sequence may benative (i.e., from the same gene) or foreign (i.e., from a differentgene) to the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or native orforeign to each other. Such control sequences include, but are notlimited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence,promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At aminimum, the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptionaland translational stop signals. The control sequences may be providedwith linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sitesfacilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region ofthe polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide.

Detergent component: the term “detergent component” is defined herein tomean the types of chemicals which can be used in detergent compositions.Examples of detergent components are surfactants, hydrotropes, builders,co-builders, chelators or chelating agents, bleaching system or bleachcomponents, polymers, fabric hueing agents, fabric conditioners, foamboosters, suds suppressors, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors,fluorescent whitening agents, perfume, optical brighteners,bactericides, fungicides, soil suspending agents, soil release polymers,anti-redeposition agents, enzyme inhibitors or stabilizers, enzymeactivators, antioxidants, and solubilizers. The detergent compositionmay comprise of one or more of any type of detergent component.

Detergent composition: the term “detergent composition” refers tocompositions that find use in the removal of undesired compounds fromitems to be cleaned, such as textiles, dishes, and hard surfaces. Thedetergent composition may be used to e.g. clean textiles, dishes andhard surfaces for both household cleaning and industrial cleaning. Theterms encompass any materials/compounds selected for the particular typeof cleaning composition desired and the form of the product (e.g.,liquid, gel, powder, granulate, paste, or spray compositions) andincludes, but is not limited to, detergent compositions (e.g., liquidand/or solid laundry detergents and fine fabric detergents; hard surfacecleaning formulations, such as for glass, wood, ceramic and metalcounter tops and windows; carpet cleaners; oven cleaners; fabricfresheners; fabric softeners; and textile and laundry pre-spotters, aswell as dish wash detergents). In addition to containing a GH9endoglucanase of the invention and/or xanthan lyase of the invention,the detergent formulation may contain one or more additional enzymes(such as amylases, proteases, proteases, peroxidases, cellulases,betaglucanases, xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases, xanthanlyases, lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases, laccases,catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases, glucoamylases,cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases,oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, carrageenases,pullulanases, tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases, polygalacturonases,rhamnogalacturonases, other endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases,pectin methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases, transglutaminases, andcombinations thereof, or any mixture thereof), and/or components such assurfactants, builders, chelators or chelating agents, bleach system orbleach components, polymers, fabric conditioners, foam boosters, sudssuppressors, dyes, perfume, tannish inhibitors, optical brighteners,bactericides, fungicides, soil suspending agents, anti corrosion agents,enzyme inhibitors or stabilizers, enzyme activators, transferase(s),hydrolytic enzymes, oxido reductases, bluing agents and fluorescentdyes, antioxidants, and solubilizers.

Dish wash: The term “dish wash” refers to all forms of washing dishes,e.g. by hand or automatic dish wash. Washing dishes includes, but is notlimited to, the cleaning of all forms of crockery such as plates, cups,glasses, bowls, all forms of cutlery such as spoons, knives, forks andserving utensils as well as ceramics, plastics, metals, china, glass andacrylics.

Dish washing composition: The term “dish washing composition” refers toall forms of compositions for cleaning hard surfaces. The presentinvention is not restricted to any particular type of dish washcomposition or any particular detergent.

Expression: The term “expression” includes any step involved in theproduction of a polypeptide including, but not limited to,transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation,post-translational modification, and secretion.

Expression vector: The term “expression vector” means a linear orcircular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide and is operably linked to control sequences that provide forits expression.

Fragment: The term “fragment” means a polypeptide or a catalytic orcarbohydrate binding module having one or more (e.g., several) aminoacids absent from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a maturepolypeptide or domain; wherein the fragment has mannanase orcarbohydrate binding activity. In one aspect, the fragment comprises atleast 90% of the length of the mature polypeptide, such as at least 448amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 3, or at least 297 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:4, such as at least 474 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11. In one aspect, thefragment comprises at least 92% of the length of the mature polypeptide,such as at least 458 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 3, or at least 303 aminoacids of SEQ ID NO: 4, or at least 484 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11. Inone aspect, the fragment comprises at least 94% of the length of themature polypeptide, such as at least 468 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 3, orat least 310 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 4, or at least 495 amino acids ofSEQ ID NO: 11. In one aspect, the fragment comprises at least 96% of thelength of the mature polypeptide, such as at least 478 amino acids ofSEQ ID NO: 3, or at least 316 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 4, or at least505 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11. In one aspect, the fragment comprisesat least 98% of the length of the mature polypeptide, such as at least488 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 3, or at least 323 amino acids of SEQ IDNO: 4, or at least 516 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11. In one aspect, thefragment comprises at least 99% of the length of the mature polypeptide,such as at least 493 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 3, or at least 326 aminoacids of SEQ ID NO: 4, or at least 527 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11.

Fusion polypeptide: The term “fusion polypeptide” is a polypeptide inwhich one polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus ofthe polypeptide of the present invention. A fusion polypeptide isproduced by fusing a polynucleotide encoding another polypeptide to apolynucleotide of the present invention. Techniques for producing fusionpolypeptides are known in the art, and include ligating the codingsequences encoding the polypeptides so that they are in frame and thatexpression of the fusion polypeptide is under control of the samepromoter(s) and terminator. Fusion polypeptides may also be constructedusing intein technology in which fusion polypeptides are createdpost-translationally (Cooper et al., 1993, EMBO J. 12: 2575-2583; Dawsonet al., 1994, Science 266: 776-779). A fusion polypeptide can furthercomprise a cleavage site between the two polypeptides. Upon secretion ofthe fusion protein, the site is cleaved releasing the two polypeptides.Examples of cleavage sites include, but are not limited to, the sitesdisclosed in Martin et al., 2003, J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 3:568-576; Svetina et al., 2000, J. Biotechnol. 76: 245-251;Rasmussen-Wilson et al., 1997, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63: 3488-3493;Ward et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 498-503; and Contreras et al.,1991, Biotechnology 9: 378-381; Eaton et al., 1986, Biochemistry 25:505-512; Collins-Racie et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 982-987; Carteret al., 1989, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 6: 240-248;and Stevens, 2003, Drug Discovery World 4: 35-48.

Hard surface cleaning: The term “Hard surface cleaning” is definedherein as cleaning of hard surfaces wherein hard surfaces may includefloors, tables, walls, roofs etc. as well as surfaces of hard objectssuch as cars (car wash) and dishes (dish wash). Dish washing includesbut are not limited to cleaning of plates, cups, glasses, bowls, andcutlery such as spoons, knives, forks, serving utensils, ceramics,plastics, metals, china, glass and acrylics.

Hemicellulolytic enzyme or hemicellulase: The term “hemicellulolyticenzyme” or “hemicellulase” means one or more (e.g., several) enzymesthat hydrolyze a hemicellulosic material. See, for example, Shallom andShoham, Current Opinion In Microbiology, 2003, 6(3): 219-228).Hemicellulases are key components in the degradation of plant biomass.Examples of hemicellulases include, but are not limited to, anacetylmannan esterase, an acetylxylan esterase, an arabinanase, anarabinofuranosidase, a coumaric acid esterase, a feruloyl esterase, agalactosidase, a glucuronidase, a glucuronoyl esterase, a mannanase, amannosidase, a xylanase, and a xylosidase. The substrates for theseenzymes, hemicelluloses, are a heterogeneous group of branched andlinear polysaccharides that are bound via hydrogen bonds to thecellulose microfibrils in the plant cell wall, crosslinking them into arobust network. Hemicelluloses are also covalently attached to lignin,forming together with cellulose a highly complex structure. The variablestructure and organization of hemicelluloses require the concertedaction of many enzymes for its complete degradation. The catalyticmodules of hemicellulases are either glycoside hydrolases (GHs) thathydrolyze glycosidic bonds, or carbohydrate esterases (CEs), whichhydrolyze ester linkages of acetate or ferulic acid side groups. Thesecatalytic modules, based on homology of their primary sequence, can beassigned into GH and CE families. Some families, with an overall similarfold, can be further grouped into clans, marked alphabetically (e.g.,GH-A). A most informative and updated classification of these and othercarbohydrate active enzymes is available in the Carbohydrate-ActiveEnzymes (CAZy) database. Hemicellulolytic enzyme activities can bemeasured according to Ghose and Bisaria, 1987, Pure & Appl. Chem. 59:1739-1752, at a suitable temperature such as 40° C.-80° C., e.g., 50°C., 55° C., 60° C., 65° C., or 70° C., and a suitable pH such as 4-9,e.g., 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, or 7.0.

Host cell: The term “host cell” means any cell type that is susceptibleto transformation, transfection, transduction, or the like with anucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotideof the present invention. The term “host cell” encompasses any progenyof a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due tomutations that occur during replication, as well as a recombinant hostcell, an isolated host cell (e.g., an isolated recombinant host cell), aheterologous host cell (e.g., a host cell that is not Myrotheciumroridum host cell).

Hybrid polypeptide: The term “hybrid polypeptide” means a polypeptidecomprising domains from two or more polypeptides, e.g., a binding domainfrom one polypeptide and a catalytic domain from another polypeptide.The domains may be fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus.

Isolated: The term “isolated” means a substance in a form that does notoccur in nature or in an environment in which the substance does notoccur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include(1) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including,but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptideor cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or allof the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated innature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to thatsubstance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasingthe amount of the substance relative to other components with which itis naturally associated (e.g., recombinant production in a host cell;multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; and use of a strongerpromoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encodingthe substance).

Laundering: The term “laundering” relates to both household launderingand industrial laundering and means the process of treating textileswith a solution containing a cleaning or detergent composition of thepresent invention. The laundering process can for example be carried outusing e.g. a household or an industrial washing machine or can becarried out by hand.

Mannanase: The term “mannanase” means a polypeptide having mannanendo-1,4-beta-mannosidase activity (EC 3.2.1.78) that catalyzes thehydrolysis of 1,4-β-D-mannosidic linkages in mannans, galactomannans andglucomannans. Alternative names of mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidase are1,4-β-D-mannan mannanohydrolase; endo-1,4-β-mannanase;endo-p-1,4-mannase;®-mannanase B; β-1,4-mannan 4-mannanohydrolase;endo-β-mannanase; and β-D-mannanase. For purposes of the presentinvention, mannanase activity may be determined using the Reducing EndAssay as described in Example 1 herein. In one aspect, the polypeptidesof the present invention have at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of themannanase activity of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ IDNO: 11.

Mature polypeptide: The term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide inits final form following translation and any post-translationalmodifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation,glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc. In one aspect, the maturepolypeptide is amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3. In one aspect, themature polypeptide is amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In oneaspect, the mature polypeptide is amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.

It is known in the art that a host cell may produce a mixture of two ofmore different mature polypeptides (i.e., with a different C-terminaland/or N-terminal amino acid) expressed by the same polynucleotide. Itis also known in the art that different host cells process polypeptidesdifferently, and thus, one host cell expressing a polynucleotide mayproduce a different mature polypeptide (e.g., having a differentC-terminal and/or N-terminal amino acid) as compared to another hostcell expressing the same polynucleotide.

Mature polypeptide coding sequence: The term “mature polypeptide codingsequence” means a polynucleotide that encodes a mature polypeptidehaving mannanase activity. In one aspect, the mature polypeptide codingsequence is nucleotides 91 to 1584 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or is nucleotides124 to 1704 of SEQ ID NO: 9. The nucleotides 1 to 90 of SEQ ID NO: 1 andnucleotides 1 to 123 of SEQ ID NO: 9 encode a signal peptide.

Malodor: The term “malodor” is meant an odor which is not desired onclean items. The cleaned item should smell fresh and clean withoutmalodors adhered to the item. One example of malodor is compounds withan unpleasant smell, which may be produced by microorganisms. Anotherexample is sweat or body odor adheringed to an item which has been incontact with humans or animals. Another example of malodor can be thesmell from spices, for example curry or other exotic spices adheringedto an item such as a piece of textile. One way of measuring the abilityof an item to adhere malodor is by using the Malodor Assay.

Nucleic acid construct: The term “nucleic acid construct” means anucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which isisolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to containsegments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not otherwise exist innature or which is synthetic, which comprises one or more controlsequences.

Operably linked: The term “operably linked” means a configuration inwhich a control sequence is placed at an appropriate position relativeto the coding sequence of a polynucleotide such that the controlsequence directs expression of the coding sequence.

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences orbetween two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequenceidentity”. For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identitybetween two amino acid sequences is determined using theNeedleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol.48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package(EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice etal., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 6.6.0 orlater. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extensionpenalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62)substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity”(obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percent identity andis calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps inAlignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between twodeoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunschalgorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in theNeedle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European MolecularBiology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferablyversion 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10,gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBINUC4.4) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longestidentity” (obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percentidentity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Numberof Gaps in Alignment)

Subsequence: The term “subsequence” means a polynucleotide having one ormore (e.g., several) nucleotides absent from the 5′ and/or 3′ end of amature polypeptide coding sequence; wherein the subsequence encodes afragment having mannanase activity.

Textile: The term “textile” means any textile material including yarns,yarn intermediates, fibers, non-woven materials, natural materials,synthetic materials, and any other textile material, fabrics made ofthese materials and products made from fabrics (e.g., garments and otherarticles). The textile or fabric may be in the form of knits, wovens,denims, non-wovens, felts, yarns, and towelling. The textile may becellulose based such as natural cellulosics, including cotton,flax/linen, jute, ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g.originating from wood pulp) including viscose/rayon, ramie, celluloseacetate fibers (tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The textile orfabric may also be non-cellulose based such as natural polyamidesincluding wool, camel, cashmere, mohair, rabit and silk or syntheticpolymer such as nylon, aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylen andspandex/elastane, or blends thereof as well as blend of cellulose basedand non-cellulose based fibers. Examples of blends are blends of cottonand/or rayon/viscose with one or more companion material such as wool,synthetic fibers (e.g. polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, polyesterfibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers,polyurethane fibers, polyurea fibers, aramid fibers), andcellulose-containing fibers (e.g. rayon/viscose, ramie, flax/linen,jute, cellulose acetate fibers, lyocell). Fabric may be conventionalwashable laundry, for example stained household laundry. When the termfabric or garment is used it is intended to include the broader termtextiles as well.

Variant: The term “variant” means a polypeptide having mannanaseactivity comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion,and/or deletion of one or more (several) amino acid residues at one ormore (several) positions. A substitution means a replacement of an aminoacid occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion meansremoval of an amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion meansadding 1-3 amino acids adjacent to an amino acid occupying a position.The variants of the present invention have at least 50%, e.g., at least60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least100% of the mannanase activity of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQID NO: 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Polypeptides Having MannanaseActivity

In a first aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides havingmannanase activity having at least 91%, e.g., at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. In oneembodiment, the polypeptides differ by up to 29 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 4.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag; comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment,the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the first aspect, the invention relates to variantsof SEQ ID NO: 4 having mannanase activity comprising one or more aminoacid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or oneor more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or29 positions. In an embodiment, the number ofpositions comprising one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one ormore amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions orany combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the number ofsubstitutions and/or deletions and/or insertions in SEQ ID NO: 4 is notmore than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In a furtherembodiment, the number of substitutions, preferably conservativesubstitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

In one embodiment to any part of the first aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 4.

The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservativeamino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affectthe folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typicallyof 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, suchas an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification bychanging net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract,an antigenic epitope or a binding domain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the groups of basicamino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids(glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine andasparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine),aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and smallamino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Aminoacid substitutions that do not generally alter specific activity areknown in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R. L.Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. Commonsubstitutions are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr,Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/lle,Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly. Other examples of conservativesubstitutions are G to A; A to G, S; V to I, L, A, T, S; I to V, L, M; Lto I, M, V; M to L, I, V; P to A, S, N; F to Y, W, H; Y to F, W, H; W toY, F, H; R to K, E, D; K to R, E, D; H to Q, N, S; D to N, E, K, R, Q; Eto Q, D, K, R, N; S to T, A; T to S, V, A; C to S, T, A; N to D, Q, H,S; Q to E, N, H, K, R.

Essential amino acids in a polypeptide can be identified according toprocedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis oralanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244:1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations areintroduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutantmolecules are tested for mannanase activity to identify amino acidresidues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also,Hilton et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271: 4699-4708. The active site ofthe enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined byphysical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques asnuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction, orphotoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contactsite amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al., 1992, Science 255:306-312; Smith et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904; Wlodaver etal., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identity of essential amino acidscan also be inferred from an alignment with a related polypeptide.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/orinsertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis,recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screeningprocedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988,Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can beused include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991,Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204), andregion-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Neret al., 1988, DNA 7:127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput,automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenizedpolypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, NatureBiotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode activepolypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequencedusing standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapiddetermination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in apolypeptide.

The polypeptide may be a hybrid polypeptide or a fusion polypeptide

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the polypeptide or variant of thefirst aspect of the invention further comprises a carbohydrate bindingmodule. In an embodiment, the carbohydrate binding module is a family 35CBM. In a further embodiment, the polypeptide or variant of the firstaspect of the invention comprises a catalytic domain and a CBM and hasat least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3. In oneembodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2 oramino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3. In a further embodiment, thepolypeptide or variant of the first aspect of the invention comprises acatalytic domain and a CBM and has at least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, atleast 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, atleast 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequenceidentity to SEQ ID NO: 11. In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10, amino acids 1 to527 of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to polypeptides havingmannanase activity having at least 87%, e.g., at least 88%, at least89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, thepolypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 3 or from SEQID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag (such as SEQ ID NO: 6); comprises the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 3 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between1 and 10 amino acids; or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activityand having at least 90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98% or at least 99% of the length of SEQ ID NO: 3. In an embodiment, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In an embodiment, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO:3. In an embodiment, the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the second aspect, the invention relates tovariants of SEQ ID NO: 3 having mannanase activity comprising one ormore amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions,and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions. In anembodiment, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 3 isnot more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In anotherembodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletions and/orinsertions in SEQ ID NO: 3 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, the number of substitutions,preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 3 is not more than10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 3.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag; comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprises orconsists of amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, thepolypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the second aspect, the invention relates tovariants of SEQ ID NO: 11 having mannanase activity comprising one ormore amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions,and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions. In anembodiment, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 11is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In anotherembodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletions and/orinsertions in SEQ ID NO: 3 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, the number of substitutions,preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 11.

Detergent Compositions Comprising Polypeptides Having Mannanase Activity

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a detergent compositioncomprising a surfactant and a polypeptide having mannanase activity,wherein the polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. In oneembodiment, the polypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 4.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag; comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment,the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the third aspect, the invention relates to adetergent composition comprising a surfactant and a variant havingmannanase activity, wherein variant comprises one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof of SEQ ID NO: 4 in1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions. In anembodiment, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 4 isnot more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In anotherembodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletions and/orinsertions in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, the number of substitutions,preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 3.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide or variant of the third aspect of theinvention further comprises a carbohydrate binding module. In anembodiment, the carbohydrate binding module is a family 35 CBM. In afurther embodiment, the polypeptide polypeptide or variant of the firstaspect of the invention comprises a catalytic domain and a CBM and hasat least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3. In oneembodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2 oramino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide or variant of the third aspect of theinvention further comprises a carbohydrate binding module. In anembodiment, the carbohydrate binding module is a family 35 CBM. In afurther embodiment, the polypeptide polypeptide or variant of the firstaspect of the invention comprises a catalytic domain and a CBM and hasat least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 11. In oneembodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10, amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10 oramino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a detergent compositioncomprising a surfactant and a polypeptide having mannanase activity,wherein the polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ IDNO: 11. In one embodiment, the polypeptides differ by up to 50 aminoacids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acidsfrom SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 and a N-terminal and/orC-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag (such as SEQ ID NO: 6); comprises theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 and a N-terminaland/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids; or is afragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least 90% suchas at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%,at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% of the lengthof SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, the polypeptidecomprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or aminoacids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10.In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3, or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11. In anembodiment, the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the fourth aspect, the invention relates to adetergent composition comprising a surfactant and a variant havingmannanase activity, wherein variant comprises one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof of SEQ ID NO: 3 orSEQ ID NO: 11 in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50positions. In an embodiment, the number of positions comprising one ormore amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions,and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof inSEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

In another embodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletionsand/or insertions in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10,e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, thenumber of substitutions, preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acid changes and conservativesubstitutions are described in the first aspect of the invention.

Examples of surfactants and preferred amounts and surfactants arediscussed below in the surfactants section.

In an embodiment to any part of the third or fourth aspects, thedetergent composition may further comprise one or more componentsselected from the group consisting of hydrotropes, builders,co-builders, chelators, bleach components, polymers, fabric hueingagents, fabric conditioners, foam boosters, suds suppressors,dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, fluorescent whitening agents,perfume, optical brighteners, bactericides, fungicides, soil suspendingagents, soil release polymers, anti-redeposition agents, enzymeinhibitors, enzyme stabilizers, enzyme activators, antioxidants andsolubilizers.

In an embodiment to any part of the third or fourth aspects, thedetergent composition may further comprise one or more additional enzymeselected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, proteases,peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases, xyloglucanases, hemicellulases,xanthanases, xanthan lyases, lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases,esterases, laccases, catalases, aryl esterases, amylases,alpha-amylases, glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, Iipoxygenases,Iigninases, carrageenases, pullulanases, tannases, arabinosidases,hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectinacetyl esterases, polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, otherendo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin methylesterases,cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases.

Granules Comprising Polypeptides Having Mannanase Activity

In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a granule comprising a coreparticle and one or more coatings, wherein the granule comprises apolypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least 83%, atleast 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, atleast 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, atleast 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment,the polypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 4.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag; comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment,the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the fifth aspect, the invention relates to agranule comprising a core particle and one or more coatings, wherein thegranule comprises a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4 having mannanase activityand one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino aciddeletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combinationthereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions.In an embodiment, the number of positions comprising one or more aminoacid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or oneor more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 4is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In anotherembodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletions and/orinsertions in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, the number of substitutions,preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide or variant of the fifth aspect of theinvention further comprises a carbohydrate binding module. In anembodiment, the carbohydrate binding module is a family 35 CBM. In afurther embodiment, the polypeptide polypeptide or variant of the firstaspect of the invention comprises a catalytic domain and a CBM and hasat least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ IDNO: 11. In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3. In one embodiment, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 10, amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 ofSEQ ID NO: 11.

In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a granule comprising a coreparticle and one or more coatings, wherein the granule comprises apolypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least 83%, atleast 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, atleast 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, atleast 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.In one embodiment, the polypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids,e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids fromSEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11; comprises theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 and a N-terminaland/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag (such as SEQ ID NO: 6);comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In an embodiment, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO:3. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10.In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, the polypeptide has beenisolated.

In a continuation of the sixth aspect, the invention relates to agranule comprising a core particle and one or more coatings, wherein thegranule comprises a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 havingmannanase activity and one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or oneor more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertionsor any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49or 50 positions. In an embodiment, the number of positions comprisingone or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino aciddeletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combinationthereof in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10, e.g., 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the number ofsubstitutions and/or deletions and/or insertions in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQID NO: 11 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Ina further embodiment, the number of substitutions, preferablyconservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not morethan 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

The granule of any of aspects five and six may further comprise one ormore formulating agents, as discussed below in the formulation section.Preferred formulating agents are glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol or 1, 3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodiumbenzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate,magnesium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, calcium carbonate, sodiumcitrate, dextrin, glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, starch andcellulose or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment to any part of the fifth or sixth aspects, the granulemay further comprise one or more additional enzyme selected from thegroup consisting of amylases, proteases, proteases, peroxidases,cellulases, betaglucanases, xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases,xanthan lyases, lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases,laccases, catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases,glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, keratinases,reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, Iipoxygenases, Iigninases,carrageenases, pullulanases, tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases,chondroitinases, xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases,polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, other endo-beta-mannanases,exo-beta-mannanases, pectin methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases andtransglutaminases.

Liquid Formulations Comprising Polypeptides Having Mannanase Activity

In a seventh aspect, the invention relates to a liquid compositioncomprising a polyol and a polypeptide having mannanase activity, whereinthe polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least 83%, atleast 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, atleast 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, atleast 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment,the polypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 4.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tagand/or HQ-tag; comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and aN-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids;or is a fragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least90% such as at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% ofthe length of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprisesor consists of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In an embodiment,the polypeptide has been isolated.

In a continuation of the seventh aspect, the invention relates to aliquid composition comprising a polyol and a variant having mannanaseactivity, wherein variant comprises one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof of SEQ ID NO: 4 in1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions. In anembodiment, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 4 isnot more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In anotherembodiment, the number of substitutions and/or deletions and/orinsertions in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 or 10. In a further embodiment, the number of substitutions,preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 4 is not more than10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acidchanges and conservative substitutions are described in the first aspectof the invention.

In one embodiment to any part of the second aspect, the polypeptide orvariant has at least 60%, such as at least 70%, at least 80%, at least90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the mannanase activity of SEQ IDNO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide or variant of the seventh aspect ofthe invention further comprises a carbohydrate binding module. In anembodiment, the carbohydrate binding module is a family 35 CBM. In afurther embodiment, the polypeptide polypeptide or variant of the firstaspect of the invention comprises a catalytic domain and a CBM and hasat least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ IDNO: 11. In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a liquid compositioncomprising a polyol and a polypeptide having mannanase activity, whereinthe polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 82%, at least 83%, atleast 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, atleast 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, atleast 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.In one embodiment, the polypeptides differ by up to 50 amino acids,e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acids fromSEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11; comprises theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11and a N-terminaland/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag (such as SEQ ID NO: 6);comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and a N-terminaland/or C-terminal extension of between 1 and 10 amino acids; or is afragment thereof having mannanase activity and having at least 90% suchas at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%,at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% of the lengthof SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, the polypeptidecomprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or aminoacids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In an embodiment, the polypeptidecomprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3. In anembodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 10.In an embodiment, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11. In an embodiment, the polypeptide has beenisolated.

In a continuation of the eighth aspect, the invention relates to aliquid composition comprising a polyol and a variant having mannanaseactivity, wherein the variant comprises one or more amino acidsubstitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one ormore amino acid insertions or any combination thereof of SEQ ID NO: 3 orSEQ ID NO: 11 in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50position. In an embodiment, the number of positions comprising one ormore amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions,and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof inSEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the number of substitutionsand/or deletions and/or insertions in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 isnot more than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In a furtherembodiment, the number of substitutions, preferably conservativesubstitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11 is not more than 10,e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Examples of amino acid changesand conservative substitutions are described in the first aspect of theinvention.

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, thepolyol is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, sorbitol,propylene glycol (MPG), ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethyleneglycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol or 1, 3-propylene glycol, dipropyleneglycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG) having an average molecular weightbelow about 600 and polypropylene glycol (PPG) having an averagemolecular weight below about 600, more preferably selected from thegroup consisting of glycerol, sorbitol and propylene glycol (MPG) or anycombination thereof.

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, theliquid formulation comprises 5%-80% polyol (i.e. total amount ofpolyol), preferably 15%-75% polyol, more preferably 25%-70% polyol, morepreferably 35%-65% polyol or most preferably 40%-60% polyol. In oneembodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, the liquidformulation comprises 5%-80% polyol, preferably 15%-75% polyol, morepreferably 25%-70% polyol, more preferably 35%-65% polyol or mostpreferably 40%-60% polyol wherein the polyol is selected from the groupconsisting of glycerol, sorbitol, propylene glycol (MPG), ethyleneglycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol or1, 3-propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG)having an average molecular weight below about 600 and polypropyleneglycol (PPG) having an average molecular weight below about 600. In oneembodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, the liquidformulation comprises 5%-80% polyol, preferably 15%-75% polyol, morepreferably 25%-70% polyol, more preferably 35%-65% polyol or mostpreferably 40%-60% polyol wherein the polyol is selected from the groupconsisting of glycerol, sorbitol and propylene glycol (MPG).

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, theformulation further comprises 0.001% to 2.0% w/w preservative. In oneembodiment, the preservative is selected from the group consisting ofphenoxy ethanol, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3(2H)-one, sodium sorbate,potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate,methylisothiazolinone, chloro methylisothiazolinone, methyl parabene,ethyl parabene, propyl parabene, butyl parabene, quarterary ammoniumsalts (such as BAC/ADBAC; alkylbenzyl quarternary ammonium chloride,dioctyldimethylammonium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride,cetrimonium chloride), essential oils and organic acids or anycombination thereof. In one embodiment, the liquid formulation comprises0.02% to 1.5% w/w preservative, more preferably 0.05% to 1.0% w/wpreservative or most preferably 0.1% to 0.5% w/w preservative. In oneembodiment, the liquid formulation comprises 0.001% to 2.0% w/wpreservative (i.e. total amount of preservative), preferably 0.02% to1.5% w/w preservative, more preferably 0.05% to 1.0% w/w preservative ormost preferably 0.1% to 0.5% w/w preservative wherein the preservativeis selected from the group consisting of phenoxy ethanol,1,2-benzisothiazolin-3(2H)-one, sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate,sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, themannanase is dosed between 0.0001% to 10% w/w of liquid formulation,such as 0.001% to 0.1% w/w polypeptide, 0.01% to 1.0% w/w polypeptide or0.1% to 10% w/w polypeptide.

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, theliquid formulation comprises one or more formulating agents (such asthose described herein), preferably a formulating agent selected fromthe list consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycolor 1, 3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassiumsorbate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodiumthiosulfate, calcium carbonate, sodium citrate, dextrin, glucose,sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, starch, PVA, acetate and phosphate,preferably selected from the list consisting of 1, 2-propylene glycol,1, 3-propylene glycol, sodium sulfate, dextrin, cellulose, sodiumthiosulfate, kaolin and calcium carbonate.

In one embodiment to any part of the seventh or eighth aspect, theliquid formulation may further comprise one or more additional enzymeselected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, proteases,peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases, xyloglucanases, hemicellulases,xanthanases, xanthan lyases, lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases,esterases, laccases, catalases, aryl esterases, amylases,alpha-amylases, glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, Iipoxygenases,Iigninases, carrageenases, pullulanases, tannases, arabinosidases,hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectinacetyl esterases, polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, otherendo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin methylesterases,cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases.

Sources of Polypeptides Having Mannanase Activity

A polypeptide having mannanase activity of the present invention may beobtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the presentinvention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with agiven source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotideis produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotidefrom the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the polypeptideobtained from a given source is secreted extracellularly.

The polypeptide may be a fungal polypeptide. For example, thepolypeptide may be a polypeptide having mannanase activity from within aphylum such as Firmicutes.

In one aspect, the polypeptide is a mannanase from a fungus of the classBacilli, such as from the order Bacillales, from the familyPaenibacillaceae, from the genus Paenibacillus or from the speciesPaenibacillus woosongensis or from the species Paenibacillus ihumii.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the inventionencompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomicequivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by whichthey are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize theidentity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in anumber of culture collections, such as the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen undZellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS),and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, NorthernRegional Research Center (NRRL).

The polypeptide may be identified and obtained from other sourcesincluding microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts,water, etc.) or DNA samples obtained directly from natural materials(e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes.Techniques for isolating microorganisms and DNA directly from naturalhabitats are well known in the art. A polynucleotide encoding thepolypeptide may then be obtained by similarly screening a genomic DNA orcDNA library of another microorganism or mixed DNA sample. Once apolynucleotide encoding a polypeptide has been detected with theprobe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated or cloned by utilizingtechniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see,e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Polynucleotides

The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding apolypeptide of the present invention, as described herein. In anembodiment, the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of the presentinvention has been isolated.

The techniques used to isolate or clone a polynucleotide are known inthe art and include isolation from genomic DNA or cDNA, or a combinationthereof. The cloning of the polynucleotides from genomic DNA can beeffected, e.g., by using the well-known polymerase chain reaction (PCR)or antibody screening of expression libraries to detect cloned DNAfragments with shared structural features. See, e.g., Innis et al.,1990, PCR: A Guide to Methods and Application, Academic Press, New York.Other nucleic acid amplification procedures such as ligase chainreaction (LCR), ligation activated transcription (LAT) andpolynucleotide-based amplification (NASBA) may be used. Thepolynucleotides may be cloned from a strain of Bacillus or a relatedorganism from Bacillales, and thus, for example, may be an allelic orspecies variant of the polypeptide encoding region of thepolynucleotide.

Nucleic Acid Constructs

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprisinga polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to one or morecontrol sequences that direct the expression of the coding sequence in asuitable host cell under conditions compatible with the controlsequences.

The polynucleotide may be manipulated in a variety of ways to providefor expression of the polypeptide. Manipulation of the polynucleotideprior to its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessarydepending on the expression vector. The techniques for modifyingpolynucleotides utilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in theart.

The control sequence may be a promoter, a polynucleotide that isrecognized by a host cell for expression of a polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide of the present invention. The promoter containstranscriptional control sequences that mediate the expression of thepolypeptide. The promoter may be any polynucleotide that showstranscriptional activity in the host cell including mutant, truncated,and hybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encodingextracellular or intracellular polypeptides either homologous orheterologous to the host cell.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a bacterial hostcell are the promoters obtained from the Bacillus amyloliquefaciensalpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene(amyL), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillusstearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillus subtilislevansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus subtilis xyIA and xyIB genes,Bacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA gene (Agaisse and Lereclus, 1994,Molecular Microbiology 13: 97-107), E. coli lac operon, E. coli trcpromoter (Egon et al., 1988, Gene 69: 301-315), Streptomyces coelicoloragarase gene (dagA), and prokaryotic beta-lactamase gene (Villa-Kamaroffet al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75: 3727-3731), as well as thetac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:21-25). Further promoters are described in “Useful proteins fromrecombinant bacteria” in Gilbert et al., 1980, Scientific American 242:74-94; and in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra. Examples of tandem promotersare disclosed in WO 99/43835.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungalhost cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulansacetamidase, Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus nigeracid stable alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamoriglucoamylase (glaA), Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus oryzaealkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase,Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), Fusariumvenenatum amyloglucosidase (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Daria (WO00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Quinn (WO 00/56900), Rhizomucor mieheilipase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Trichoderma reeseibeta-glucosidase, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I, Trichodermareesei cellobiohydrolase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I,Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanaseIII, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase V, Trichoderma reesei xylanase I,Trichoderma reesei xylanase II, Trichoderma reesei xylanase Ill,Trichoderma reesei beta-xylosidase, and Trichoderma reesei translationelongation factor, as well as the NA2-tpi promoter (a modified promoterfrom an Aspergillus neutral alpha-amylase gene in which the untranslatedleader has been replaced by an untranslated leader from an Aspergillustriose phosphate isomerase gene; non-limiting examples include modifiedpromoters from an Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase gene in whichthe untranslated leader has been replaced by an untranslated leader froman Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerasegene); and mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters thereof. Otherpromoters are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,147.

In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the genes forSaccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiaegalactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH1, ADH2/GAP),Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), Saccharomycescerevisiae metallothionein (CUP1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful promoters for yeast host cellsare described by Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8: 423-488.

The control sequence may also be a transcription terminator, which isrecognized by a host cell to terminate transcription. The terminator isoperably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding thepolypeptide. Any terminator that is functional in the host cell may beused in the present invention.

Preferred terminators for bacterial host cells are obtained from thegenes for Bacillus clausii alkaline protease (aprH), Bacilluslicheniformis alpha-amylase (amyL), and Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA(rrnB).

Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtainedfrom the genes for Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase, Aspergillusnidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase,Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase,Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease, Trichoderma reeseibeta-glucosidase, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I, Trichodermareesei cellobiohydrolase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I,Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanaseIll, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase V, Trichoderma reesei xylanase I,Trichoderma reesei xylanase II, Trichoderma reesei xylanase Ill,Trichoderma reesei beta-xylosidase, and Trichoderma reesei translationelongation factor.

Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiaecytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeglyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators foryeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be an mRNA stabilizer region downstream ofa promoter and upstream of the coding sequence of a gene which increasesexpression of the gene.

Examples of suitable mRNA stabilizer regions are obtained from aBacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA gene (WO 94/25612) and a Bacillussubtilis SP82 gene (Hue et al., 1995, Journal of Bacteriology 177:3465-3471).

The control sequence may also be a leader, a nontranslated region of anmRNA that is important for translation by the host cell. The leader isoperably linked to the 5′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding thepolypeptide. Any leader that is functional in the host cell may be used.

Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained fromthe genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulanstriose phosphate isomerase. Suitable leaders for yeast host cells areobtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1),Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomycescerevisiae alpha-factor, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).

The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequenceoperably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polynucleotide and, whentranscribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal to addpolyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequencethat is functional in the host cell may be used.

Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cellsare obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilatesynthase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus nigeralpha-glucosidase Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusariumoxysporum trypsin-like protease.

Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described byGuo and Sherman, 1995, Mol. Cellular Biol. 15: 5983-5990.

The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region thatencodes a signal peptide linked to the N-terminus of a polypeptide anddirects the polypeptide into the cell's secretory pathway. The 5′-end ofthe coding sequence of the polynucleotide may inherently contain asignal peptide coding sequence naturally linked in translation readingframe with the segment of the coding sequence that encodes thepolypeptide. Alternatively, the 5′-end of the coding sequence maycontain a signal peptide coding sequence that is foreign to the codingsequence. A foreign signal peptide coding sequence may be required wherethe coding sequence does not naturally contain a signal peptide codingsequence. Alternatively, a foreign signal peptide coding sequence maysimply replace the natural signal peptide coding sequence in order toenhance secretion of the polypeptide. However, any signal peptide codingsequence that directs the expressed polypeptide into the secretorypathway of a host cell may be used.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for bacterial host cells arethe signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for BacillusNCIB 11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus licheniformis Subtilisin,Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase, Bacillus stearothermophilusalpha-amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT,nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides aredescribed by Simonen and Palva, 1993, Microbiological Reviews 57:109-137.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for filamentous fungal hostcells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genesfor Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase,Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Humicola insolens cellulase, Humicolainsolens endoglucanase V, Humicola lanuginosa lipase, and Rhizomucormiehei aspartic proteinase.

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeinvertase. Other useful signal peptide coding sequences are described byRomanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a propeptide coding sequence thatencodes a propeptide positioned at the N-terminus of a polypeptide. Theresultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme or propolypeptide (or azymogen in some cases). A propolypeptide is generally inactive and canbe converted to an active polypeptide by catalytic or autocatalyticcleavage of the propeptide from the propolypeptide. The propeptidecoding sequence may be obtained from the genes for Bacillus subtilisalkaline protease (aprE), Bacillus subtilis neutral protease (nprT),Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (WO 95/33836), Rhizomucor mieheiaspartic proteinase, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor.

Where both signal peptide and propeptide sequences are present, thepropeptide sequence is positioned next to the N-terminus of apolypeptide and the signal peptide sequence is positioned next to theN-terminus of the propeptide sequence.

It may also be desirable to add regulatory sequences that regulateexpression of the polypeptide relative to the growth of the host cell.Examples of regulatory sequences are those that cause expression of thegene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physicalstimulus, including the presence of a regulatory compound. Regulatorysequences in prokaryotic systems include the lac, tac, and trp operatorsystems. In yeast, the ADH2 system or GAL1 system may be used. Infilamentous fungi, the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase promoter,Aspergillus oryzae TAKA alpha-amylase promoter, and Aspergillus oryzaeglucoamylase promoter, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I promoter,and Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase II promoter may be used. Otherexamples of regulatory sequences are those that allow for geneamplification. In eukaryotic systems, these regulatory sequences includethe dihydrofolate reductase gene that is amplified in the presence ofmethotrexate, and the metallothionein genes that are amplified withheavy metals. In these cases, the polynucleotide encoding thepolypeptide would be operably linked to the regulatory sequence.

Expression Vectors

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectorscomprising a polynucleotide of the present invention, a promoter, andtranscriptional and translational stop signals. The various nucleotideand control sequences may be joined together to produce a recombinantexpression vector that may include one or more convenient restrictionsites to allow for insertion or substitution of the polynucleotideencoding the polypeptide at such sites. Alternatively, thepolynucleotide may be expressed by inserting the polynucleotide or anucleic acid construct comprising the polynucleotide into an appropriatevector for expression. In creating the expression vector, the codingsequence is located in the vector so that the coding sequence isoperably linked with the appropriate control sequences for expression.

The recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid orvirus) that can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA proceduresand can bring about expression of the polynucleotide. The choice of thevector will typically depend on the compatibility of the vector with thehost cell into which the vector is to be introduced. The vector may be alinear or closed circular plasmid.

The vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vectorthat exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which isindependent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, anextrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome.The vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication.Alternatively, the vector may be one that, when introduced into the hostcell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with thechromosome(s) into which it has been integrated. Furthermore, a singlevector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids that togethercontain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of the host cell,or a transposon, may be used.

The vector preferably contains one or more selectable markers thatpermit easy selection of transformed, transfected, transduced, or thelike cells. A selectable marker is a gene the product of which providesfor biocide or viral resistance, resistance to heavy metals, prototrophyto auxotrophs, and the like.

Examples of bacterial selectable markers are Bacillus licheniformis orBacillus subtilis dal genes, or markers that confer antibioticresistance such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, neomycin,spectinomycin, or tetracycline resistance. Suitable markers for yeasthost cells include, but are not limited to, ADE2, HIS3, LEU2, LYS2,MET3, TRP1, and URA3. Selectable markers for use in a filamentous fungalhost cell include, but are not limited to, adeA(phosphoribosylaminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthase), adeB(phosphoribosyl-aminoimidazole synthase), amdS (acetamidase), argB(ornithine carbamoyltransferase), bar (phosphinothricinacetyltransferase), hph (hygromycin phosphotransferase), niaD (nitratereductase), pyrG (orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfateadenyltransferase), and trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well asequivalents thereof. Preferred for use in an Aspergillus cell areAspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae amdS and pyrG genes and aStreptomyces hygroscopicus bar gene. Preferred for use in a Trichodermacell are adeA, adeB, amdS, hph, and pyrG genes.

The selectable marker may be a dual selectable marker system asdescribed in WO 2010/039889. In one aspect, the dual selectable markeris an hph-tk dual selectable marker system.

The vector preferably contains an element(s) that permits integration ofthe vector into the host cell's genome or autonomous replication of thevector in the cell independent of the genome.

For integration into the host cell genome, the vector may rely on thepolynucleotide's sequence encoding the polypeptide or any other elementof the vector for integration into the genome by homologous ornon-homologous recombination. Alternatively, the vector may containadditional polynucleotides for directing integration by homologousrecombination into the genome of the host cell at a precise location(s)in the chromosome(s). To increase the likelihood of integration at aprecise location, the integrational elements should contain a sufficientnumber of nucleic acids, such as 100 to 10,000 base pairs, 400 to 10,000base pairs, and 800 to 10,000 base pairs, which have a high degree ofsequence identity to the corresponding target sequence to enhance theprobability of homologous recombination. The integrational elements maybe any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in thegenome of the host cell.

Furthermore, the integrational elements may be non-encoding or encodingpolynucleotides. On the other hand, the vector may be integrated intothe genome of the host cell by non-homologous recombination.

For autonomous replication, the vector may further comprise an origin ofreplication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the hostcell in question. The origin of replication may be any plasmidreplicator mediating autonomous replication that functions in a cell.The term “origin of replication” or “plasmid replicator” means apolynucleotide that enables a plasmid or vector to replicate in vivo.

Examples of bacterial origins of replication are the origins ofreplication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184 permittingreplication in E. coli, and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMB1 permittingreplication in Bacillus.

Examples of origins of replication for use in a yeast host cell are the2 micron origin of replication, ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 andCEN3, and the combination of ARS4 and CEN6.

Examples of origins of replication useful in a filamentous fungal cellare AMA1 and ANS1 (Gems et al., 1991, Gene 98: 61-67; Cullen et al.,1987, Nucleic Acids Res. 15: 9163-9175; WO 00/24883). Isolation of theAMA1 gene and construction of plasmids or vectors comprising the genecan be accomplished according to the methods disclosed in WO 00/24883.

More than one copy of a polynucleotide of the present invention may beinserted into a host cell to increase production of a polypeptide. Anincrease in the copy number of the polynucleotide can be obtained byintegrating at least one additional copy of the sequence into the hostcell genome or by including an amplifiable selectable marker gene withthe polynucleotide where cells containing amplified copies of theselectable marker gene, and thereby additional copies of thepolynucleotide, can be selected for by cultivating the cells in thepresence of the appropriate selectable agent.

The procedures used to ligate the elements described above to constructthe recombinant expression vectors of the present invention are wellknown to one skilled in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989,supra).

Host Cells

The present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprisinga polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to one or morecontrol sequences that direct the production of a polypeptide of thepresent invention. A construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide isintroduced into a host cell so that the construct or vector ismaintained as a chromosomal integrant or as a self-replicatingextra-chromosomal vector as described earlier. The term “host cell”encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to theparent cell due to mutations that occur during replication. The choiceof a host cell will to a large extent depend upon the gene encoding thepolypeptide and its source.

The host cell may be any cell useful in the recombinant production of apolypeptide of the present invention, e.g., a prokaryote or a eukaryote.

The prokaryotic host cell may be any Gram-positive or Gram-negativebacterium. Gram-positive bacteria include, but are not limited to,Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus,Lactococcus, Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, andStreptomyces. Gram-negative bacteria include, but are not limited to,Campylobacter, E. coli, Flavobacterium, Fusobacterium, Helicobacter,Ilyobacter, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Ureaplasma.

The bacterial host cell may be any Bacillus cell including, but notlimited to, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillusbrevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans,Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus, Bacilluslicheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillusstearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus thuringiensis cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptococcus cell including,but not limited to, Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus pyogenes,Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptomyces cell including, butnot limited to, Streptomyces achromogenes, Streptomyces avermitilis,Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus, and Streptomyces lividanscells.

The introduction of DNA into a Bacillus cell may be effected byprotoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang and Cohen, 1979, Mol. Gen.Genet. 168: 111-115), competent cell transformation (see, e.g., Youngand Spizizen, 1961, J. Bacteriol. 81: 823-829, or Dubnau andDavidoff-Abelson, 1971, J. Mol. Biol. 56: 209-221), electroporation(see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower, 1988, Biotechniques 6: 742-751), orconjugation (see, e.g., Koehler and Thorne, 1987, J. Bacteriol. 169:5271-5278). The introduction of DNA into an E. coli cell may be effectedby protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Hanahan, 1983, J. Mol. Biol.166: 557-580) or electroporation (see, e.g., Dower et al., 1988, NucleicAcids Res. 16: 6127-6145). The introduction of DNA into a Streptomycescell may be effected by protoplast transformation, electroporation (see,e.g., Gong et al., 2004, Folia Microbiol. (Praha) 49: 399-405),conjugation (see, e.g., Mazodier et al., 1989, J. Bacteriol. 171:3583-3585), or transduction (see, e.g., Burke et al., 2001, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 98: 6289-6294). The introduction of DNA into aPseudomonas cell may be effected by electroporation (see, e.g., Choi etal., 2006, J. Microbiol. Methods 64: 391-397) or conjugation (see, e.g.,Pinedo and Smets, 2005, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 51-57). Theintroduction of DNA into a Streptococcus cell may be effected by naturalcompetence (see, e.g., Perry and Kuramitsu, 1981, Infect. Immun. 32:1295-1297), protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Catt and Jollick,1991, Microbios 68: 189-207), electroporation (see, e.g., Buckley etal., 1999, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3800-3804), or conjugation(see, e.g., Clewell, 1981, Microbiol. Rev. 45: 409-436). However, anymethod known in the art for introducing DNA into a host cell can beused.

The host cell may also be a eukaryote, such as a mammalian, insect,plant, or fungal cell.

The host cell may be a fungal cell. “Fungi” as used herein includes thephyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota as wellas the Oomycota and all mitosporic fungi (as defined by Hawksworth etal., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition,1995, CAB International, University Press, Cambridge, UK).

The fungal host cell may be a yeast cell. “Yeast” as used hereinincludes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales), basidiosporogenousyeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti (Blastomycetes).Since the classification of yeast may change in the future, for thepurposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined as described inBiology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, Passmore, and Davenport,editors, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium Series No. 9, 1980).

The yeast host cell may be a Candida, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia,Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia cell, such as aKluyveromyces lactis, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomycescerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomyces douglasii,Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomycesoviformis, or Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

The fungal host cell may be a filamentous fungal cell. “Filamentousfungi” include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota andOomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra). The filamentousfungi are generally characterized by a mycelial wall composed of chitin,cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides.Vegetative growth is by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism isobligately aerobic. In contrast, vegetative growth by yeasts such asSaccharomyces cerevisiae is by budding of a unicellular thallus andcarbon catabolism may be fermentative.

The filamentous fungal host cell may be an Acremonium, Aspergillus,Aureobasidium, Bjerkandera, Ceriporiopsis, Chrysosporium, Coprinus,Coriolus, Cryptococcus, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Humicola, Magnaporthe,Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces,Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Phlebia, Piromyces, Pleurotus,Schizophyllum, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium,Trametes, or Trichoderma cell.

For example, the filamentous fungal host cell may be an Aspergillusawamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillusjaponicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae,Bjerkandera adusta, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, Ceriporiopsis caregiea,Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Ceriporiopsis pannocinta, Ceriporiopsisrivulosa, Ceriporiopsis subrufa, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora,Chrysosporium inops, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporiumlucknowense, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola,Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporiumzonatum, Coprinus cinereus, Coriolus hirsutus, Fusarium bactridioides,Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusariumgraminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi,Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusariumsambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusariumsulphureum, Fusarium torulosum, Fusarium trichothecioides, Fusariumvenenatum, Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa, Mucor miehei,Myceliophthora thermophila, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium purpurogenum,Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phlebia radiata, Pleurotus eryngii,Thielavia terrestris, Trametes villosa, Trametes versicolor, Trichodermaharzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum,Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride cell.

Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplastformation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of thecell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures fortransformation of Aspergillus and Trichoderma host cells are describedin EP 238023, Yelton et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:1470-1474, and Christensen et al., 1988, Bio/Technology6: 1419-1422.Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species are described byMalardier et al., 1989, Gene 78: 147-156, and WO 96/00787. Yeast may betransformed using the procedures described by Becker and Guarente, InAbelson, J. N. and Simon, M. I., editors, Guide to Yeast Genetics andMolecular Biology, Methods in Enzymology, Volume 194, pp 182-187,Academic Press, Inc., New York; Ito et al., 1983, J. Bacteriol. 153:163; and Hinnen et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75: 1920.

Methods of Production The present invention also relates to methods ofproducing a polypeptide of the present invention (e.g., in vitro or exvivo methods of production), comprising (a) cultivating a cell, which inits wild-type form produces the polypeptide, under conditions conducivefor production of the polypeptide; and optionally, (b) recovering thepolypeptide. In one aspect, the cell is an Paenibacillus cell. Inanother aspect, the cell is an Paenibacillus woosongensis cell or aPaenibacillus ihumii cell.

The present invention also relates to methods of producing a polypeptideof the present invention (e.g., in vitro or ex vivo methods ofproduction), comprising (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell of thepresent invention under conditions conducive for production of thepolypeptide; and optionally, (b) recovering the polypeptide.

The host cells are cultivated in a nutrient medium suitable forproduction of the polypeptide using methods known in the art. Forexample, the cells may be cultivated by shake flask cultivation, orsmall-scale or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch,fed-batch, or solid state fermentations) in laboratory or industrialfermentors in a suitable medium and under conditions allowing thepolypeptide to be expressed and/or isolated. The cultivation takes placein a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources andinorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable media areavailable from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according topublished compositions (e.g., in catalogues of the American Type CultureCollection). If the polypeptide is secreted into the nutrient medium,the polypeptide can be recovered directly from the medium. If thepolypeptide is not secreted, it can be recovered from cell lysates.

The polypeptide may be detected using methods known in the art that arespecific for the polypeptides. These detection methods include, but arenot limited to, use of specific antibodies, formation of an enzymeproduct, or disappearance of an enzyme substrate. For example, an enzymeassay may be used to determine the activity of the polypeptide.

The polypeptide may be recovered using methods known in the art. Forexample, the polypeptide may be recovered from the nutrient medium byconventional procedures including, but not limited to, collection,centrifugation, filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, orprecipitation. In one aspect, a fermentation broth comprising thepolypeptide is recovered.

The polypeptide may be purified by a variety of procedures known in theart including, but not limited to, chromatography (e.g., ion exchange,affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion),electrophoretic procedures (e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing),differential solubility (e.g., ammonium sulfate precipitation),SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g., Protein Purification, Janson andRyden, editors, VCH Publishers, New York, 1989) to obtain substantiallypure polypeptides.

In an alternative aspect, the polypeptide is not recovered, but rather ahost cell of the present invention expressing the polypeptide is used asa source of the polypeptide.

Fermentation Broth Formulations or Cell Compositions

The present invention also relates to a fermentation broth formulationor a cell composition comprising a polypeptide of the present invention.The fermentation broth product further comprises additional ingredientsused in the fermentation process, such as, for example, cells(including, the host cells containing the gene encoding the polypeptideof the present invention which are used to produce the polypeptide ofinterest), cell debris, biomass, fermentation media and/or fermentationproducts. In some embodiments, the composition is a cell-killed wholebroth containing organic acid(s), killed cells and/or cell debris, andculture medium.

The term “fermentation broth” as used herein refers to a preparationproduced by cellular fermentation that undergoes no or minimal recoveryand/or purification. For example, fermentation broths are produced whenmicrobial cultures are grown to saturation, incubated undercarbon-limiting conditions to allow protein synthesis (e.g., expressionof enzymes by host cells) and secretion into cell culture medium. Thefermentation broth can contain unfractionated or fractionated contentsof the fermentation materials derived at the end of the fermentation.Typically, the fermentation broth is unfractionated and comprises thespent culture medium and cell debris present after the microbial cells(e.g., filamentous fungal cells) are removed, e.g., by centrifugation.In some embodiments, the fermentation broth contains spent cell culturemedium, extracellular enzymes, and viable and/or nonviable microbialcells.

In an embodiment, the fermentation broth formulation and cellcompositions comprise a first organic acid component comprising at leastone 1-5 carbon organic acid and/or a salt thereof and a second organicacid component comprising at least one 6 or more carbon organic acidand/or a salt thereof. In a specific embodiment, the first organic acidcomponent is acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, a salt thereof,or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing and the second organic acidcomponent is benzoic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 4-methylvalericacid, phenylacetic acid, a salt thereof, or a mixture of two or more ofthe foregoing.

In one aspect, the composition contains an organic acid(s), andoptionally further contains killed cells and/or cell debris. In oneembodiment, the killed cells and/or cell debris are removed from acell-killed whole broth to provide a composition that is free of thesecomponents.

The fermentation broth formulations or cell compositions may furthercomprise a preservative and/or anti-microbial (e.g., bacteriostatic)agent, including, but not limited to, sorbitol, sodium chloride,potassium sorbate, and others known in the art.

The cell-killed whole broth or composition may contain theunfractionated contents of the fermentation materials derived at the endof the fermentation. Typically, the cell-killed whole broth orcomposition contains the spent culture medium and cell debris presentafter the microbial cells (e.g., filamentous fungal cells) are grown tosaturation, incubated under carbon-limiting conditions to allow proteinsynthesis. In some embodiments, the cell-killed whole broth orcomposition contains the spent cell culture medium, extracellularenzymes, and killed filamentous fungal cells. In some embodiments, themicrobial cells present in the cell-killed whole broth or compositioncan be permeabilized and/or lysed using methods known in the art.

A whole broth or cell composition as described herein is typically aliquid, but may contain insoluble components, such as killed cells, celldebris, culture media components, and/or insoluble enzyme(s). In someembodiments, insoluble components may be removed to provide a clarifiedliquid composition.

The whole broth formulations and cell compositions of the presentinvention may be produced by a method described in WO 90/15861 or WO2010/096673.

Cleaning Compositions and/or Detergent Compositions

The present invention also relates to compositions comprising amannanase of the invention, such as cleaning compositions and/ordetergent compositions.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to cleaningcompositions and/or detergent compositions comprising a mannanase of theinvention and a suitable surfactant. In one embodiment, the detergentcomposition may be adapted for specific uses such as laundry, inparticular household laundry, dish washing or hard surface cleaning.

Thus in one embodiment, the polypeptide of aspect one or two, detergentcomposition of aspect three or four, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight may be used for laundering,washing or cleaning a textile and/or a hard surface (such as dish wash).In an embodiment, the polypeptide has an enzyme detergency benefit (i.e.the enzyme of the invention improves the cleaning result compared to thesame composition without the enzyme present).

The detergent compositions of the invention may be formulated, forexample, as a hand or machine laundry detergent composition including alaundry additive composition suitable for pre-treatment of stainedfabrics and a rinse added fabric softener composition, or be formulatedas a detergent composition for use in general household hard surfacecleaning operations, or be formulated for hand or machine dishwashingoperations. The detergent compositions of the invention may find use inhard surface cleaning, automatic dishwashing applications, as well ascosmetic applications such as dentures, teeth, hair and skin.

The detergent composition of the invention may be in any convenientform, e.g., a bar, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a paste or a liquid. Aliquid detergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to 70% waterand 0-30% organic solvent, or non-aqueous.

Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels providedherein are made in reference to the active level of that component orcomposition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residualsolvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially availablesources.

The mannanase of the invention is normally incorporated in the detergentcomposition (pods/caps, liquid detergent or powder detergent) at a levelof from 0.001% to 10% of enzyme protein by weight of the composition,such as 0.001% to 0.1%, 0.01% to 1.0% or 0.1% to 10% of enzyme proteinby weight of the composition.

The mannanase of the invention is normally incorporated in the washingcomposition in such amounts that their concentration in the wash wateris at a level of from 0.0001 to 1 ppm enzyme protein, such as 0.0001 to0.01 ppm, such as 0.001 to 0.1 ppm or such as 0.01 to 1 ppm enzymeprotein in wash water.

In some preferred embodiments, the detergent compositions providedherein are typically formulated such that, during use in aqueouscleaning operations, the wash water has a pH of from about 5.0 to about11.5, or in alternative embodiments, even from about 6.0 to about 10.5,such as from about 5 to about 11, from about 5 to about 10, from about 5to about 9, from about 5 to about 8, from about 5 to about 7, from about6 to about 11, from about 6 to about 10, from about 6 to about 9, fromabout 6 to about 8, from about 6 to about 7, from about 7 to about 11,from about 7 to about 10, from about 7 to about 9, or from about 7 toabout 8. In some preferred embodiments, granular or liquid laundryproducts are formulated such that the wash water has a pH from about 5.5to about 8. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levelsinclude the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc., and are well known tothose skilled in the art.

Enzyme components weights are based on total protein. All percentagesand ratios are calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated. Allpercentages and ratios are calculated based on the total compositionunless otherwise indicated. In the exemplified detergent composition,the enzymes levels are expressed by pure enzyme by weight of the totalcomposition and unless otherwise specified, the detergent ingredientsare expressed by weight of the total composition.

The enzymes of the present invention also find use in detergent additiveproducts. A detergent additive product comprising a mannanase of theinvention is ideally suited for inclusion in a wash process when, e.g.,temperature is low, such as at temperatures about 40° C. or below, thepH is between 6 and 8 and the washing time short, e.g., below 30 min.

The detergent additive product may be a mannanase of the invention andpreferably an additional enzyme. In one embodiment, the additive ispackaged in dosage form for addition to a cleaning process. The singledosage may comprise a pill, tablet, gelcap or other single dosage unitincluding powders and/or liquids. In some embodiments, filler and/orcarrier material(s) are included, suitable filler or carrier materialsinclude, but are not limited to, various salts of sulfate, carbonate andsilicate as well as talc, clay and the like. In some embodiments fillerand/or carrier materials for liquid compositions include water and/orlow molecular weight primary and secondary alcohols including polyolsand diols. Examples of such alcohols include, but are not limited to,methanol, ethanol, propanol and isopropanol.

In one particularly preferred embodiment the mannanase according to theinvention is employed in a granular composition or liquid, the mannanasemay be in form of an encapsulated particle. In one embodiment, theencapsulating material is selected from the group consisting ofcarbohydrates, natural or synthetic gums, chitin and chitosan, celluloseand cellulose derivatives, silicates, phosphates, borates, polyvinylalcohol, polyethylene glycol, paraffin waxes and combinations thereof.

The compositions according to the invention typically comprise one ormore detergent ingredients. The term detergent compositions includearticles and cleaning and treatment compositions. The term cleaningcomposition includes, unless otherwise indicated, tablet, granular orpowder-form all-purpose or “heavy-duty” washing agents, especiallylaundry detergents; liquid, gel or paste-form all-purpose washingagents, especially the so-called heavy-duty liquid types; liquidfine-fabric detergents; hand dishwashing agents or light dutydishwashing agents, especially those of the high-foaming type; machinedishwashing agents, including the various tablet, granular, liquid andrinse-aid types for household and institutional use. The composition canalso be in unit dose packages, including those known in the art andthose that are water soluble, water insoluble and/or water permeable.

In embodiments in which cleaning and/or detergent components may not becompatible with the mannanase of the present invention, suitable methodsmay be used for keeping the cleaning and/or detergent components and themannanase separated (i.e., not in contact with each other) untilcombination of the two components is appropriate. Such separationmethods include any suitable method known in the art (e.g., gelcaps,encapsulation, tablets, and physical separation e.g., by use of a waterdissolvable pouch having one or more compartments).

In some embodiments, the enzymes employed herein are stabilized by thepresence of water-soluble sources of zinc (II), calcium (II) and/ormagnesium (II) ions in the finished compositions that provide such ionsto the enzymes, as well as other metal ions (e.g., barium (II), scandium(II), iron (II), manganese (II), aluminum (Ill), tin (II), cobalt (II),copper (II), nickel (II), and oxovanadium (IV)). The enzymes of thedetergent compositions of the invention may also be stabilized usingconventional stabilizing agents such as polyol, e.g., propylene glycolor glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, and the compositionmay be formulated as described in, e.g., WO 92/19709 and WO 92/19708.The enzymes of the invention may also be stabilized by adding reversibleenzyme inhibitors, e.g., of the protein type (as described in EP 544777) or the boronic acid type. Other enzyme stabilizers are well knownin the art, such as peptide aldehydes and protein hydrolysate, e.g. themannanases according to the invention may be stabilized using peptidealdehydes or ketones such as described in WO2005/105826 andWO2009/118375.

Protected enzymes for inclusion in a detergent composition of theinvention may be prepared, as mentioned above, according to the methoddisclosed in EP 238 216.

The composition may be augmented with one or more agents for preventingor removing the formation of the biofilm. These agents may include, butare not limited to, dispersants, surfactants, detergents, other enzymes,anti-microbials, and biocides.

The compositions of the invention may be applied in dosing elements tobe used in an auto-dosing device. The dosing elements comprising thecomposition of the present invention can be placed into a deliverycartridge as that described in WO 2007/052004 and WO 2007/0833141. Thedosing elements can have an elongated shape and set into an arrayforming a delivery cartridge which is the refill for an auto-dosingdispensing device as described in case WO 2007/051989. The deliverycartridge is to be placed in an auto-dosing delivery device, such asthat described in WO 2008/053191.

Suitable disclosure of auto-dosing devices can be found in WO2007/083139, WO 2007/051989, WO 2007/083141, WO 2007/083142 andEP2361964,

Formulation of the Mannanase in Granules

Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,106,991 and 4,661,452 and may optionally be coated by methodsknown in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are poly(ethyleneoxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethyleneoxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol containsfrom 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethyleneoxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- andtriglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materialssuitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB1483591. Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized byadding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol,lactic acid or boric acid according to established methods. Protectedenzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238,216.

The mannanase may be formulated as a granule for example as a co-granulethat combines one or more enzymes. Each enzyme will then be present inmore granules securing a more uniform distribution of enzymes in thedetergent. This also reduces the physical segregation of differentenzymes due to different particle sizes. Methods for producingmulti-enzyme co-granulate for the detergent industry is disclosed in thewww.ip.com disclosure IPCOM000200739D.

Another example of formulation of enzymes by the use of co-granulates isdisclosed in WO 2013/188331, which relates to a detergent compositioncomprising (a) a multi-enzyme co-granule; (b) less than 10% w/w zeolite(anhydrous basis); and (c) less than 10% w/w phosphate salt (anhydrousbasis), wherein said enzyme co-granule comprises from 10 to 98% w/wmoisture sink component and the composition additionally comprises from20 to 80% w/w detergent moisture sink component.

An embodiment of the invention relates to an enzyme granule/particlecomprising the mannanase of the invention. The granule is composed of acore, and optionally one or more coatings (outer layers) surrounding thecore.

Typically the granule/particle size, measured as equivalent sphericaldiameter (volume based average particle size), of the granule is 20-2000μm, particularly 50-1500 μm, 100-1500 μm or 250-1200 μm.

The core may include additional materials such as fillers, fibrematerials (cellulose or synthetic fibres), stabilizing agents,solubilizing agents, suspension agents, viscosity regulating agents,light spheres, plasticizers, salts, lubricants and fragrances.

The core may include binders, such as synthetic polymer, wax, fat, orcarbohydrate.

The core may comprise a salt of a multivalent cation, a reducing agent,an antioxidant, a peroxide decomposing catalyst and/or an acidic buffercomponent, typically as a homogenous blend.

The core may consist of an inert particle with the enzyme absorbed intoit, or applied onto the surface, e.g., by fluid bed coating.

The core may have a diameter of 20-2000 μm, particularly 50-1500 μm,100-1500 μm or 250-1200 μm.

The core can be prepared by granulating a blend of the ingredients,e.g., by a method comprising granulation techniques such ascrystallization, precipitation, pan-coating, fluid bed coating, fluidbed agglomeration, rotary atomization, extrusion, prilling,spheronization, size reduction methods, drum granulation, and/or highshear granulation.

Methods for preparing the core can be found in Handbook of PowderTechnology; Particle size enlargement by C. E. Capes; Volume 1; 1980;Elsevier. Preparation methods include known feed and granule formulationtechnologies, e.g.:

-   -   a) Spray dried products, wherein a liquid enzyme-containing        solution is atomized in a spray drying tower to form small        droplets which during their way down the drying tower dry to        form an enzyme-containing particulate material. Very small        particles can be produced this way (Michael S. Showell (editor);        Powdered detergents; Surfactant Science Series; 1998; vol. 71;        page 140-142; Marcel Dekker).    -   b) Layered products, wherein the enzyme is coated as a layer        around a pre-formed inert core particle, wherein an        enzyme-containing solution is atomized, typically in a fluid bed        apparatus wherein the pre-formed core particles are fluidized,        and the enzyme-containing solution adheres to the core particles        and dries up to leave a layer of dry enzyme on the surface of        the core particle. Particles of a desired size can be obtained        this way if a useful core particle of the desired size can be        found. This type of product is described in, e.g., WO 97/23606    -   c) Absorbed core particles, wherein rather than coating the        enzyme as a layer around the core, the enzyme is absorbed onto        and/or into the surface of the core. Such a process is described        in WO 97/39116.    -   d) Extrusion or pelletized products, wherein an        enzyme-containing paste is pressed to pellets or under pressure        is extruded through a small opening and cut into particles which        are subsequently dried. Such particles usually have a        considerable size because of the material in which the extrusion        opening is made (usually a plate with bore holes) sets a limit        on the allowable pressure drop over the extrusion opening. Also,        very high extrusion pressures when using a small opening        increase heat generation in the enzyme paste, which is harmful        to the enzyme (see also Michael S. Showell (editor); Powdered        detergents; Surfactant Science Series; 1998; vol. 71; page        140-142; Marcel Dekker).    -   e) Prilled products, wherein an enzyme-containing powder is        suspended in molten wax and the suspension is sprayed, e.g.,        through a rotating disk atomiser, into a cooling chamber where        the droplets quickly solidify (Michael S. Showell (editor);        Powdered detergents; Surfactant Science Series; 1998; vol. 71;        page 140-142; Marcel Dekker). The product obtained is one        wherein the enzyme is uniformly distributed throughout an inert        material instead of being concentrated on its surface. Also U.S.        Pat. Nos. 4,016,040 and 4,713,245 are documents relating to this        technique    -   f) Mixer granulation products, wherein a liquid is added to a        dry powder composition of, e.g., conventional granulating        components, the enzyme being introduced either via the liquid or        the powder or both. The liquid and the powder are mixed and as        the moisture of the liquid is absorbed in the dry powder, the        components of the dry powder will start to adhere and        agglomerate and particles will build up, forming granulates        comprising the enzyme. Such a process is described in U.S. Pat.        No. 4,106,991 and related documents EP 170360, EP 304332, EP        304331, WO 90/09440 and WO 90/09428. In a particular product of        this process wherein various high-shear mixers can be used as        granulators, granulates consisting of enzyme as enzyme, fillers        and binders etc. are mixed with cellulose fibres to reinforce        the particles to give the so-called T-granulate. Reinforced        particles, being more robust, release less enzymatic dust.    -   g) Size reduction, wherein the cores are produced by milling or        crushing of larger particles, pellets, tablets, briquettes etc.        containing the enzyme. The wanted core particle fraction is        obtained by sieving the milled or crushed product. Over and        undersized particles can be recycled. Size reduction is        described in (Martin Rhodes (editor); Principles of Powder        Technology; 1990; Chapter 10; John Wiley & Sons).    -   h) Fluid bed granulation. Fluid bed granulation involves        suspending particulates in an air stream and spraying a liquid        onto the fluidized particles via nozzles. Particles hit by spray        droplets get wetted and become tacky. The tacky particles        collide with other particles and adhere to them and form a        granule.    -   i) The cores may be subjected to drying, such as in a fluid bed        drier. Other known methods for drying granules in the feed or        detergent industry can be used by the skilled person. The drying        preferably takes place at a product temperature of from 25 to        90° C. For some enzymes it is important the cores comprising the        enzyme contain a low amount of water before coating. If water        sensitive enzymes are coated before excessive water is removed,        it will be trapped within the core and it may affect the        activity of the enzyme negatively. After drying, the cores        preferably contain 0.1-10% w/w water.

The core of the enzyme granule/particle may be surrounded by at leastone coating, e.g., to improve the storage stability, to reduce dustformation during handling, or for coloring the granule. The optionalcoating(s) may include a salt coating, or other suitable coatingmaterials, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), methyl hydroxy-propylcellulose (MHPC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Examples of enzymegranules with multiple coatings are shown in WO 93/07263 and WO97/23606.

The coating may be applied in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight ofthe core, e.g., at least 0.5%, 1% or 5%. The amount may be at most 100%,70%, 50%, 40% or 30%.

The coating is preferably at least 0.1 μm thick, particularly at least0.5 μm, at least 1 μm or at least 5 μm. In a particular embodiment thethickness of the coating is below 100 μm. In a more particularembodiment the thickness of the coating is below 60 μm. In an even moreparticular embodiment the total thickness of the coating is below 40 μm.

The coating should encapsulate the core unit by forming a substantiallycontinuous layer. A substantially continuous layer is to be understoodas a coating having few or no holes, so that the core unit it isencapsulating/enclosing has few or none uncoated areas. The layer orcoating should in particular be homogeneous in thickness.

The coating can further contain other materials as known in the art,e.g., fillers, antisticking agents, pigments, dyes, plasticizers and/orbinders, such as titanium dioxide, kaolin, calcium carbonate or talc.

A salt coating may comprise at least 60% by weight w/w of a salt, e.g.,at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 95% or at least 99% by weight w/w.

The salt may be added from a salt solution where the salt is completelydissolved or from a salt suspension wherein the fine particles is lessthan 50 μm, such as less than 10 μm or less than 5 μm.

The salt coating may comprise a single salt or a mixture of two or moresalts. The salt may be water soluble, in particular having a solubilityat least 0.1 grams in 100 g of water at 20° C., preferably at least 0.5g per 100 g water, e.g., at least 1 g per 100 g water, e.g., at least 5g per 100 g water.

The salt may be an inorganic salt, e.g., salts of sulfate, sulfite,phosphate, phosphonate, nitrate, chloride or carbonate or salts ofsimple organic acids (less than 10 carbon atoms, e.g., 6 or less carbonatoms) such as citrate, malonate or acetate. Examples of cations inthese salts are alkali or earth alkali metal ions, the ammonium ion ormetal ions of the first transition series, such as sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, zinc or aluminium. Examples of anions includechloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, sulfite, bisulfite, thiosulfate,phosphate, monobasic phosphate, dibasic phosphate, hypophosphite,dihydrogen pyrophosphate, tetraborate, borate, carbonate, bicarbonate,metasilicate, citrate, malate, maleate, malonate, succinate, lactate,formate, acetate, butyrate, propionate, benzoate, tartrate, ascorbate orgluconate. In particular alkali- or earth alkali metal salts of sulfate,sulfite, phosphate, phosphonate, nitrate, chloride or carbonate or saltsof simple organic acids such as citrate, malonate or acetate may beused.

The salt in the coating may have a constant humidity at 20° C. above60%, particularly above 70%, above 80% or above 85%, or it may beanother hydrate form of such a salt (e.g., anhydrate). The salt coatingmay be as described in WO 00/01793 or WO 2006/034710.

Specific examples of suitable salts are NaCl (CH_(20° c.)=76%), Na₂CO₃(CH_(20° c.)=92%), NaNO₃ (CH_(20° c.)=73%), Na₂HPO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=95%),Na₃PO₄ (CH_(25° c.)=92%), NH₄Cl (CH_(20° c.)=79.5%), (NH₄)₂HPO₄(CH_(20° c.)=93,0%), NH₄H₂PO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=93.1%), (NH₄)₂SO₄(CH_(20° c.)=81.1%), KCl (CH_(20° c.)=85%), K₂HPO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=92%),KH₂PO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=96.5%), KNO₃ (CH_(20° c.)=93.5%), Na₂SO₄(CH_(20° c.)=93%), K₂SO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=98%), KHSO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=86%),MgSO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=90%), ZnSO₄ (CH_(20° c.)=90%) and sodium citrate(CH_(25° c.)=86%). Other examples include NaH₂PO₄, (NH₄)H₂PO₄, CuSO₄,Mg(NO₃)₂ and magnesium acetate.

The salt may be in anhydrous form, or it may be a hydrated salt, i.e. acrystalline salt hydrate with bound water(s) of crystallization, such asdescribed in WO 99/32595. Specific examples include anhydrous sodiumsulfate (Na₂SO₄), anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), magnesium sulfateheptahydrate (MgSO₄·7H₂O), zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O),sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate (Na₂HPO₄·7H₂O), magnesium nitratehexahydrate (Mg(NO₃)₂(6H₂O)), sodium citrate dihydrate and magnesiumacetate tetrahydrate. Preferably the salt is applied as a solution ofthe salt, e.g., using a fluid bed.

Thus, in a further aspect, the present invention provides a granule,which comprises:

-   -   (a) a core comprising a mannanase according to the invention,        and    -   (b) optionally a coating consisting of one or more layer(s)        surrounding the core.

Other Enzymes

In one embodiment, a mannanase of the invention is combined with one ormore enzymes, such as at least two enzymes, more preferred at leastthree, four or five enzymes. Preferably, the enzymes have differentsubstrate specificity, e.g., proteolytic activity, amylolytic activity,lipolytic activity, hemicellulytic activity or pectolytic activity.

The detergent additive as well as the detergent composition may compriseone or more enzymes such as a protease, lipase, cutinase, an amylase,carbohydrase, cellulase, pectinase, mannanase, arabinase, galactanase,xylanase, oxidase, e.g., a laccase and/or peroxidase.

In general the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should be compatiblewith the selected detergent, (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with otherenzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) shouldbe present in effective amounts.

Cellulases: Suitable cellulases include those of animal, vegetable ormicrobial origin. Particularly suitable cellulases include those ofbacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineeredvariants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from thegenera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium,e.g., the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens,Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,435,307, 5,648,263, 5,691,178, 5,776,757 and WO 89/09259.

Especially suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulaseshaving color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulasesdescribed in EP 0 495 257, EP 0 531 372, WO 96/11262, WO 96/29397, WO98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those describedin WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,046, 5,686,593,5,763,254, WO 95/24471, WO 98/12307 and WO 1999/001544.

Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme™, and Carezyme™(Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™, and Puradax HA™ (Genencor InternationalInc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

Proteases: Suitable proteases include those of bacterial, fungal, plant,viral or animal origin e.g. microbial or vegetable origin. Microbialorigin is preferred. Chemically modified or protein engineered variantsare included. It may be an alkaline protease, such as a serine proteaseor a metalloprotease. A serine protease may for example be of the S1family, such as trypsin, or the S8 family such as Subtilisin. Ametalloproteases protease may for example be a thermolysin from e.g.family M4 or other metalloprotease such as those from M5, M7 or M8families.

The term “subtilases” refers to a sub-group of serine protease accordingto Siezen et al., Protein Engng. 4 (1991) 719-737 and Siezen et al.Protein Science 6 (1997) 501-523. Serine proteases are a subgroup ofproteases characterized by having a serine in the active site, whichforms a covalent adduct with the substrate. The subtilases may bedivided into 6 sub-divisions, i.e. the Subtilisin family, the Thermitasefamily, the Proteinase K family, the Lantibiotic peptidase family, theKexin family and the Pyrolysin family.

Examples of subtilases are those derived from Bacillus such as Bacilluslentus, B. alkalophilus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacilluspumilus and Bacillus gibsonii described in; U.S. Pat. No. 7,262,042 andWO09/021867, and Subtilisin lentus, Subtilisin Novo, SubtilisinCarlsberg, Bacillus licheniformis, Subtilisin BPN′, Subtilisin 309,Subtilisin 147 and Subtilisin 168 described in WO89/06279 and proteasePD138 described in (WO93/18140). Other useful proteases may be thosedescribed in WO92/175177, WO01/016285, WO02/026024 and WO02/016547.Examples of trypsin-like proteases are trypsin (e.g. of porcine orbovine origin) and the Fusarium protease described in WO89/06270,WO94/25583 and WO05/040372, and the chymotrypsin proteases derived fromCellulomonas described in WO05/052161 and WO05/052146.

A further preferred protease is the alkaline protease from Bacilluslentus DSM 5483, as described for example in WO95/23221, and variantsthereof which are described in WO92/21760, WO95/23221, EP1921147 andEP1921148.

Examples of metalloproteases are the neutral metalloprotease asdescribed in WO07/044993 (Genencor Int.) such as those derived fromBacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Examples of useful proteases are the variants described in: WO92/19729,WO96/034946, WO98/20115, WO98/20116, WO99/011768, WO01/44452,WO03/006602, WO04/03186, WO04/041979, WO07/006305, WO11/036263,WO11/036264, especially the variants with substitutions in one or moreof the following positions: 3, 4, 9, 15, 27, 36, 57, 68, 76, 87, 95, 96,97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 118, 120, 123, 128, 129, 130,160, 167, 170, 194, 195, 199, 205, 206, 217, 218, 222, 224, 232, 235,236, 245, 248, 252 and 274 using the BPN′ numbering. More preferred theprotease variants may comprise the mutations: S3T, V41, S9R, A15T, K27R,*36D, V68A, N76D, N87S,R, *97E, A98S, S99G,D,A, S99AD, S101G,M,R S103A,V1041,Y,N, S106A, G118V,R, H120D,N, N123S, S128L, P129Q, S130A, G160D,Y167A, R170S, A194P, G195E, V199M, V2051, L217D, N218D, M222S, A232V,K235L, Q236H, Q245R, N252K, T274A (using BPN′ numbering).

Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those soldunder the trade names Alcalase®, Duralase™, Durazym™, Relase®, Relase®Ultra, Savinase®, Savinase® Ultra, Primase®, Polarzyme®, Kannase®,Liquanase®, Liquanase® Ultra, Ovozyme®, Coronase®, Coronase® Ultra,Neutrase®, Everlase® and Esperase® (Novozymes A/S), those sold under thetradename Maxatase®, Maxacal®, Maxapem®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®,Preferenz™, Purafect MA®, Purafect Ox®, Purafect OxP®, Puramax®,Properase®, Effectenz™ FN2®, FN3®, FN4®, Excellase®, Opticlean® andOptimase® (Danisco/DuPont), Axapem™ (Gist-Brocases N. V.), BLAP(sequence shown in FIG. 29 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,604) and variantshereof (Henkel AG) and KAP (Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin) from Kao.

Lipases: Suitable lipases include those of animal, vegetable ormicrobial origin. Particularly suitable lipases include those ofbacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineeredvariants are included. Examples of useful lipases include lipases fromHumicola (synonym Thermomyces), e.g., from H. lanuginosa (T.lanuginosus) as described in EP 258 068 and EP 305 216 or from H.insolens as described in WO 96/13580, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g., fromP. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218 272), P. cepacia (EP 331376), P. stutzeri (GB 1,372,034), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strainSD 705 (WO 95/06720 and WO 96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO 96/12012), aBacillus lipase, e.g., from B. subtilis (Dartois et al., 1993,Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 1131: 253-360), B. stearothermophilus (JP64/744992) or B. pumilus (WO 91/16422).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in WO92/05249, WO 94/01541, EP 407 225, EP 260 105, WO 95/35381, WO 96/00292,WO 95/30744, WO 94/25578, WO 95/14783, WO 95/22615, WO 97/04079 and WO97/07202.

Preferred commercially available lipase enzymes include Lipolase™,Lipolase Ultra™, and Lipex™ (Novozymes A/S).

Amylases: Suitable amylases which can be used together with mannanase ofthe invention may be an alpha-amylase or a glucoamylase and may be ofbacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineeredvariants are included. Amylases include, for example, alpha-amylasesobtained from Bacillus, e.g., a special strain of Bacilluslicheniformis, described in more detail in GB 1,296,839. Suitableamylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO: 3 in WO 95/10603 or variantshaving 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 thereof. Preferred variantsare described in WO 94/02597, WO 94/18314, WO 97/43424 and SEQ ID NO: 4of WO 99/019467, such as variants with substitutions in one or more ofthe following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 178,179, 181, 188, 190, 197, 201, 202, 207, 208, 209, 211, 243, 264, 304,305, 391, 408, and 444. Different suitable amylases include amylaseshaving SEQ ID NO: 6 in WO 02/010355 or variants thereof having 90%sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 and a substitutionin position 193. Other amylases which are suitable are hybridalpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived fromB. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of WO 2006/066594 andresidues 36-483 of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase shown in SEQ IDNO: 4 of WO 2006/066594 or variants having 90% sequence identitythereof. Preferred variants of this hybrid alpha-amylase are thosehaving a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of thefollowing positions: G48, T49, G107, H156, A181, N190, M197, 1201, A209and Q264. Most preferred variants of the hybrid alpha-amylase comprisingresidues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciensshown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of WO 2006/066594 and residues 36-483 of SEQ IDNO: 4 are those having the substitutions:

-   -   M197T;    -   H156Y+A181T+N190F+A209V+Q264S; or    -   G48A+T491+G107A+H156Y+A181T+N190F+1201F+A209V+Q264S.

Further amylases which are suitable are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 6 inWO 99/019467 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ IDNO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6 are those having asubstitution, a deletion or an insertion in one or more of the followingpositions: R181, G182, H183, G184, N195, 1206, E212, E216 and K269.Particularly preferred amylases are those having deletion in positionsR181 and G182, or positions H183 and G184. Additional amylases which canbe used are those having SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQID NO: 7 of WO 96/023873 or variants thereof having 90% sequenceidentity to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 7.Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ IDNO: 7 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in oneor more of the following positions: 140, 181, 182, 183, 184, 195, 206,212, 243, 260, 269, 304 and 476. More preferred variants are thosehaving a deletion in positions 181 and 182 or positions 183 and 184.Most preferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ IDNO: 7 are those having a deletion in positions 183 and 184 and asubstitution in one or more of positions 140, 195, 206, 243, 260, 304and 476. Other amylases which can be used are amylases having SEQ ID NO:2 of WO 08/153815, SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO 01/66712 or variants thereofhaving 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 08/153815 or 90%sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO 01/66712. Preferred variants ofSEQ ID NO: 10 in WO 01/66712 are those having a substitution, a deletionor an insertion in one of more of the following positions: 176, 177,178, 179, 190, 201, 207, 211 and 264. Further suitable amylases areamylases having SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 09/061380 or variants having 90%sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 thereof. Preferred variants of SEQ IDNO: 2 are those having a truncation of the C-terminus and/or asubstitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the followingpositions: Q87, Q98, S125, N128, T131, T165, K178, R180, S181, T182,G183, M201, F202, N225, S243, N272, N282, Y305, R309, D319, Q320, Q359,K444 and G475. More preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those havingthe substitution in one of more of the following positions: Q87E,R,Q98R, S125A, N128C, T1311, T1651, K178L, T182G, M201L, F202Y, N225E,R,N272E,R, S243Q,A,E,D, Y305R, R309A, Q320R, Q359E, K444E and G475K and/ordeletion in position R180 and/or S181 or of T182 and/or G183. Mostpreferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having thesubstitutions:

-   -   N128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K;    -   N128C+K178L+T182G+F202Y+Y305R+D319T+G475K;    -   S125A+N128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K; or    -   S125A+N128C+T1311+T165|+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K wherein the        variants are C-terminally truncated and optionally further        comprises a substitution at position 243 and/or a deletion at        position 180 and/or position 181. Other suitable amylases are        the alpha-amylase having SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712 or a        variant having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 12.        Preferred amylase variants are those having a substitution, a        deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following        positions of SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712: R28, R118, N174; R181,        G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302,        S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439,        R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471, N484. Particular preferred        amylases include variants having a deletion of D183 and G184 and        having the substitutions R118K, N195F, R320K and R458K, and a        variant additionally having substitutions in one or more        position selected from the group: M9, G149, G182, G186, M202,        T257, Y295, N299, M323, E345 and A339, most preferred a variant        that additionally has substitutions in all these positions.        Other examples are amylase variants such as those described in        WO2011/098531, WO2013/001078 and WO2013/001087. Commercially        available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Fungamyl™,        Stainzyme™, Stainzyme Plus™, Natalase™ Liquozyme X and BAN™        (from Novozymes A/S), and Rapidase™, Purastar™/Effectenz™        Powerase and Preferenz S100 (from Genencor International        Inc./DuPont).

Peroxidases/Oxidases: Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those ofplant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or proteinengineered variants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases includeperoxidases from Coprinus, e.g., from C. cinereus, and variants thereofas those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257.

Lechinases/Beta-glucanases: Suitable Lechinases include those ofbacterial or fungal origin. They may be chemically modified or proteinengineered. Examples of useful beta-glucanases include those describedin WO 2015/144824 (Novozymes A/S) and WO 99/06516 (Henkel KGAA).

Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ (Novozymes A/S).

The detergent enzyme(s) may be included in a detergent composition byadding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding acombined additive comprising all of these enzymes. A detergent additiveof the invention, i.e., a separate additive or a combined additive, canbe formulated, for example, as a granulate, liquid, slurry, etc.Preferred detergent additive formulations are granulates, in particularnon-dusting granulates as described above, liquids, in particularstabilized liquids, or slurries.

Surfactants

Typically, the detergent composition comprises (by weight of thecomposition) one or more surfactants in the range of 0% to 50%,preferably from 2% to 40%, more preferably from 5% to 35%, morepreferably from 7% to 30%, most preferably from 10% to 25%, even mostpreferably from 15% to 20%. In a preferred embodiment the detergent is aliquid or powder detergent comprising less than 40%, preferably lessthan 30%, more preferably less than 25%, even more preferably less than20% by weight of surfactant. The composition may comprise from 1% to15%, preferably from 2% to 12%, 3% to 10%, most preferably from 4% to8%, even most preferably from 4% to 6% of one or more surfactants.Preferred surfactants are anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants,cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants,and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the major part of the surfactant isanionic. Suitable anionic surfactants are well known in the art and maycomprise fatty acid carboxylates (soap), branched-chain, linear-chainand random chain alkyl sulfates or fatty alcohol sulfates or primaryalcohol sulfates or alkyl benzenesulfonates such as LAS and LAB orphenylalknesulfonates or alkenyl sulfonates or alkenyl benzenesulfonatesor alkyl ethoxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates or alpha-olefinsulfonate or dodecenyl/tetradecnylsuccinic acid. The anionic surfactantsmay be alkoxylated. The detergent composition may also comprise from 1wt % to 10 wt % of non-ionic surfactant, preferably from 2 wt % to 8 wt%, more preferably from 3 wt % to 7 wt %, even more preferably less than5 wt % of non-ionic surfactant. Suitable non-ionic surfactants are wellknown in the art and may comprise alcohol ethoxylates, and/or alkylethoxylates, and/or alkylphenol ethoxylates, and/or glucamides such asfatty acid N-glucosyl N-methyl amides, and/or alkyl polyglucosidesand/or mono- or diethanolamides or fatty acid amides. The detergentcomposition may also comprise from 0 wt % to 10 wt % of cationicsurfactant, preferably from 0.1 wt % to 8 wt %, more preferably from 0.5wt % to 7 wt %, even more preferably less than 5 wt % of cationicsurfactant. Suitable cationic surfactants are well known in the art andmay comprise alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, and/or alkylpyridinium compounds and/or alkyl quaternary phosphonium compoundsand/or alkyl ternary sulphonium compounds. The composition preferablycomprises surfactant in an amount to provide from 100 ppm to 5,000 ppmsurfactant in the wash liquor during the laundering process. Thecomposition upon contact with water typically forms a wash liquorcomprising from 0.5 g/I to 10 g/I detergent composition. Many suitablesurface active compounds are available and fully described in theliterature, for example, in “Surface-Active Agents and Detergents”,Volumes I and 11, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.

Builders

The main role of builder is to sequester divalent metal ions (such ascalcium and magnesium ions) from the wash solution that would otherwiseinteract negatively with the surfactant system. Builders are alsoeffective at removing metal ions and inorganic soils from the fabricsurface, leading to improved removal of particulate and beverage stains.Builders are also a source of alkalinity and buffer the pH of the washwater to a level of 9.5 to 11. The buffering capacity is also termedreserve alkalinity, and should preferably be greater than 4.

The detergent compositions of the present invention may comprise one ormore detergent builders or builder systems. Many suitable buildersystems are described in the literature, for example in PowderedDetergents, Surfactant science series volume 71, Marcel Dekker, Inc.Builder may comprise from 0% to 60%, preferably from 5% to 45%, morepreferably from 10% to 40%, most preferably from 15% to 35%, even morepreferably from 20% to 30% builder by weight of the subject composition.The composition may comprise from 0% to 15%, preferably from 1% to 12%,2% to 10%, most preferably from 3% to 8%, even most preferably from 4%to 6% of builder by weight of the subject composition.

Builders include, but are not limited to, the alkali metal, ammonium andalkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates (e.g., tripolyphosphate STPP),alkali metal silicates, alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates,aluminosilicate builders (e.g., zeolite) and polycarboxylate compounds,ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers of maleic anhydride withethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1, 3, 5-trihydroxy benzene-2, 4,6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, the variousalkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyaceticacids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriaceticacid, as well as polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid, succinic acid,citric acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and solublesalts thereof. Ethanole amines (MEA, DEA, and TEA) may also contributeto the buffering capacity in liquid detergents.

Bleaches

The detergent compositions of the present invention may comprise one ormore bleaching agents. In particular powdered detergents may compriseone or more bleaching agents. Suitable bleaching agents include otherphotobleaches, pre-formed peracids, sources of hydrogen peroxide, bleachactivators, hydrogen peroxide, bleach catalysts and mixtures thereof. Ingeneral, when a bleaching agent is used, the compositions of the presentinvention may comprise from about 0.1% to about 50% or even from about0.1% to about 25% bleaching agent by weight of the subject cleaningcomposition. Examples of suitable bleaching agents include:

-   -   (1) other photobleaches for example Vitamin K3;    -   (2) preformed peracids: Suitable preformed peracids include, but        are not limited to, compounds selected from the group consisting        of percarboxylic acids and salts, percarbonic acids and salts,        perimidic acids and salts, peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts,        for example, Oxone, and mixtures thereof. Suitable percarboxylic        acids include hydrophobic and hydrophilic peracids having the        formula R—(C═O)O—O—M wherein R is an alkyl group, optionally        branched, having, when the peracid is hydrophobic, from 6 to 14        carbon atoms, or from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and, when the peracid        is hydrophilic, less than 6 carbon atoms or even less than 4        carbon atoms; and M is a counterion, for example, sodium,        potassium or hydrogen;    -   (3) sources of hydrogen peroxide, for example, inorganic        perhydrate salts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium        salts of perborate (usually mono- or tetra-hydrate),        percarbonate, persulphate, perphosphate, persilicate salts and        mixtures thereof. In one aspect of the invention the inorganic        perhydrate salts are selected from the group consisting of        sodium salts of perborate, percarbonate and mixtures thereof.        When employed, inorganic perhydrate salts are typically present        in amounts of from 0.05 to 40 wt %, or 1 to 30 wt % of the        overall composition and are typically incorporated into such        compositions as a crystalline solid that may be coated. Suitable        coatings include inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate,        carbonate or borate salts or mixtures thereof, or organic        materials such as water-soluble or dispersible polymers, waxes,        oils or fatty soaps. Useful bleaching compositions are described        in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,282, and 6,306,812;    -   (4) bleach activators having R—(C═O)—L wherein R is an alkyl        group, optionally branched, having, when the bleach activator is        hydrophobic, from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, or from 8 to 12 carbon        atoms and, when the bleach activator is hydrophilic, less than 6        carbon atoms or even less than 4 carbon atoms; and L is leaving        group. Examples of suitable leaving groups are benzoic acid and        derivatives thereof—especially benzene sulphonate. Suitable        bleach activators include dodecanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate,        decanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate, decanoyl oxybenzoic acid or        salts thereof, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate,        tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) and nonanoyloxybenzene        sulphonate (NOBS). Suitable bleach activators are also disclosed        in WO 98/17767. While any suitable bleach activator may be        employed, in one aspect of the invention the subject cleaning        composition may comprise NOBS, TAED or mixtures thereof; and    -   (5) bleach catalysts that are capable of accepting an oxygen        atom from peroxyacid and transferring the oxygen atom to an        oxidizable substrate are described in WO 2008/007319. Suitable        bleach catalysts include, but are not limited to: iminium        cations and polyions; iminium zwitterions; modified amines;        modified amine oxides; N-sulphonyl imines; N-phosphonyl imines;        N-acyl imines; thiadiazole dioxides; perfluoroimines; cyclic        sugar ketones and mixtures thereof. The bleach catalyst will        typically be comprised in the detergent composition at a level        of from 0.0005% to 0.2%, from 0.001% to 0.1%, or even from        0.005% to 0.05% by weight.

When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally presentin the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 60 wt %, fromabout 0.5 to about 40 wt % or even from about 0.6 to about 10 wt % basedon the composition. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursorsthereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracidor precursor thereof.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activatormay be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from theperoxide source) to peracid is from 1:1 to 35:1, or even 2:1 to 10:1.

Adjunct Materials

Dispersants—The detergent compositions of the present invention can alsocontain dispersants. In particular powdered detergents may comprisedispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo-or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acidcomprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other bynot more than two carbon atoms.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents—The detergent compositions of the presentinvention may also include one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents.Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are notlimited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers,copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole,polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. Whenpresent in a subject composition, the dye transfer inhibiting agents maybe present at levels from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01%to about 5% or even from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of thecomposition.

Fluorescent whitening agent—The detergent compositions of the presentinvention will preferably also contain additional components that maytint articles being cleaned, such as fluorescent whitening agent oroptical brighteners. Any fluorescent whitening agent suitable for use ina laundry detergent composition may be used in the composition of thepresent invention. The most commonly used fluorescent whitening agentsare those belonging to the classes of diaminostilbene-sulphonic acidderivatives, diarylpyrazoline derivatives and bisphenyl-distyrylderivatives.

Preferred fluorescent whitening agents are Tinopal DMS and Tinopal CBSavailable from Ciba-Geigy A G, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is thedisodium salt of 4,4′-bis-(2-morpholino-4 anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene disulphonate. Tinopal CBS is the disodium salt of2,2′-bis-(phenyl-styryl) disulphonate.

Also preferred are fluorescent whitening agents is the commerciallyavailable Parawhite KX, supplied by Paramount Minerals and Chemicals,Mumbai, India. Other fluorescers suitable for use in the inventioninclude the 1-3-diaryl pyrazolines and the 7-alkylaminocoumarins.

Suitable fluorescent brightener levels include lower levels of fromabout 0.01, from 0.05, from about 0.1 or even from about 0.2 wt % toupper levels of 0.5 or even 0.75 wt %.

Fabric hueing agents—The detergent compositions of the present inventionmay also include fabric hueing agents such as dyes or pigments whichwhen formulated in detergent compositions can deposit onto a fabric whensaid fabric is contacted with a wash liquor comprising said detergentcompositions thus altering the tint of said fabric through absorption ofvisible light. Fluorescent whitening agents emit at least some visiblelight. In contrast, fabric hueing agents alter the tint of a surface asthey absorb at least a portion of the visible light spectrum. Suitablefabric hueing agents include dyes and dye-clay conjugates, and may alsoinclude pigments. Suitable dyes include small molecule dyes andpolymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyesselected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Colour Index(C.I.) classifications of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, AcidBlue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, ormixtures thereof, for example as described in WO 2005/03274, WO2005/03275, WO 2005/03276 and EP 1 876 226. The detergent compositionpreferably comprises from about 0.00003 wt % to about 0.2 wt %, fromabout 0.00008 wt % to about 0.05 wt %, or even from about 0.0001 wt % toabout 0.04 wt % fabric hueing agent. The composition may comprise from0.0001 wt % to 0.2 wt % fabric hueing agent, this may be especiallypreferred when the composition is in the form of a unit dose pouch.

Soil release polymers—The detergent compositions of the presentinvention may also include one or more soil release polymers which aidthe removal of soils from fabrics such as cotton and polyester basedfabrics, in particular the removal of hydrophobic soils from polyesterbased fabrics. The soil release polymers may for example be nonionic oranionic terephthalte based polymers, polyvinyl caprolactam and relatedcopolymers, vinyl graft copolymers, polyester polyamides see for exampleChapter 7 in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science series, volume 71,Marcel Dekker, Inc. Another type of soil release polymers areamphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers comprising a corestructure and a plurality of alkoxylate groups attached to that corestructure. The core structure may comprise a polyalkylenimine structureor a polyalkanolamine structure as described in detail in WO2009/087523. Furthermore random graft co-polymers are suitable soilrelease polymers Suitable graft co-polymers are described in more detailin WO 2007/138054, WO 2006/108856 and WO 2006/113314. Other soil releasepolymers are substituted polysaccharide structures especiallysubstituted cellulosic structures such as modified cellulosederiviatives such as those described in EP 1 867 808 or WO 2003/040279.Suitable cellulosic polymers include cellulose, cellulose ethers,cellulose esters, cellulose amides and mixtures thereof. Suitablecellulosic polymers include anionically modified cellulose, nonionicallymodified cellulose, cationically modified cellulose, zwitterionicallymodified cellulose, and mixtures thereof. Suitable cellulosic polymersinclude methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, estercarboxy methyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Anti-redeposition agents—The detergent compositions of the presentinvention may also include one or more anti-redeposition agents such ascarboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA),polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyoxyethylene and/or polyethyleneglycol(PEG), homopolymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid andmaleic acid, and ethoxylated polyethyleneimines. The cellulose basedpolymers described under soil release polymers above may also functionas anti-redeposition agents.

Other suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to,anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders,carriers, dyes, enzyme stabilizers, fabric softeners, fillers, foamregulators, hydrotropes, perfumes, pigments, sod suppressors, solvents,structurants for liquid detergents and/or structure elasticizing agents.

In one aspect the detergent is a compact fluid laundry detergentcomposition comprising: a) at least about 10%, preferably from 20 to 80%by weight of the composition, of surfactant selected from anionicsurfactants, non ionic surfactants, soap and mixtures thereof; b) fromabout 1% to about 30%, preferably from 5 to 30%, by weight of thecomposition, of water; c) from about 1% to about 15%, preferably from 3to 10% by weight of the composition, of non-aminofunctional solvent; andd) from about 5% to about 20%, by weight of the composition, of aperformance additive selected from chelants, soil release polymers,enzymes and mixtures thereof; wherein the compact fluid laundrydetergent composition comprises at least one of: (i) the surfactant hasa weight ratio of the anionic surfactant to the nonionic surfactant fromabout 1.5:1 to about 5:1, the surfactant comprises from about 15% toabout 40%, by weight of the composition, of anionic surfactant andcomprises from about 5% to about 40%, by weight of the composition, ofthe soap; (ii) from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of thecomposition, of a suds boosting agent selected from suds boostingpolymers, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amine oxidesurfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof; and (ii) both(i) and (ii). All the ingredients are described in WO 2007/130562.Further polymers useful in detergent formulations are described in WO2007/149806.

In another aspect the detergent is a compact granular (powdered)detergent comprising a) at least about 10%, preferably from 15 to 60% byweight of the composition, of surfactant selected from anionicsurfactants, non-ionic surfactants, soap and mixtures thereof; b) fromabout 10 to 80% by weight of the composition, of a builder, preferablyfrom 20% to 60% where the builder may be a mixture of builders selectedfrom i) phosphate builder, preferably less than 20%, more preferablyless than 10% even more preferably less than 5% of the total builder isa phosphate builder; ii) a zeolite builder, preferably less than 20%,more preferably less than 10% even more preferably less than 5% of thetotal builder is a zeolite builder; iii) citrate, preferably 0 to 5% ofthe total builder is a citrate builder; iv) polycarboxylate, preferably0 to 5% of the total builder is a polycarboxylate builder v) carbonate,preferably 0 to 30% of the total builder is a carbonate builder and vi)sodium silicates, preferably 0 to 20% of the total builder is a sodiumsilicate builder; c) from about 0% to 25% by weight of the composition,of fillers such as sulphate salts, preferably from 1% to 15%, morepreferably from 2% to 10%, more preferably from 3% to 5% by weight ofthe composition, of fillers; and d) from about 0.1% to 20% by weight ofthe composition, of enzymes, preferably from 1% to 15%, more preferablyfrom 2% to 10% by weight of the composition, of enzymes.

The soils and stains that are important for detergent formulators arecomposed of many different substances, and a range of different enzymes,all with different substrate specificities have been developed for usein detergents both in relation to laundry and hard surface cleaning,such as dishwashing. These enzymes are considered to provide an enzymedetergency benefit, since they specifically improve stain removal in thecleaning process they are applied in as compared to the same processwithout enzymes. Stain removing enzymes that are known in the artinclude enzymes such as carbohydrases, amylases, proteases, lipases,cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases, cutinases, and pectinase.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention the mannanase of theinvention may be combined with at least two enzymes. These additionalenzymes are described in details in the section “other enzymes”, morepreferred at least three, four or five enzymes. Preferably, the enzymeshave different substrate specificity, e.g., carbolytic activity,proteolytic activity, amylolytic activity, lipolytic activity,hemicellulytic activity or pectolytic activity. The enzyme combinationmay for example be a mannanase of the invention with another stainremoving enzyme, e.g., a mannanase of the invention and a protease, amannanase of the invention and a serine protease, a mannanase of theinvention and an amylase, a mannanase of the invention and a cellulase,mannanase of the invention and a lipase, a mannanase of the inventionand a cutinase, a mannanase of the invention and a pectinase or amannanase of the invention and an anti-redeposition enzyme. Morepreferably, the mannanase of the invention is combined with at least twoother stain removing enzymes, e.g., a mannanase of the invention, alipase and an amylase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease andan amylase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease and a lipase; ora mannanase of the invention, a protease and a pectinase; or a mannanaseof the invention, a protease and a cellulase; or a mannanase of theinvention, a protease and a hemicellulase; or a mannanase of theinvention, a protease and a cutinase; or a mannanase of the invention,an amylase and a pectinase; or a mannanase of the invention, an amylaseand a cutinase; or a mannanase of the invention, an amylase and acellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, an amylase and ahemicellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, a lipase and apectinase; or a mannanase of the invention, a lipase and a cutinase; ora mannanase of the invention, a lipase and a cellulase; or a mannanaseof the invention, a lipase and a hemicellulase. Even more preferably, amannanase of the invention may be combined with at least three otherstain removing enzymes, e.g., a mannanase of the invention, a protease,a lipase and an amylase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease, anamylase and a pectinase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease, anamylase and a cutinase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease, anamylase and a cellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, a protease, anamylase and a hemicellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, anamylase, a lipase and a pectinase; or a mannanase of the invention, anamylase, a lipase and a cutinase; or a mannanase of the invention, anamylase, a lipase and a cellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, anamylase, a lipase and a hemicellulase; or a mannanase of the invention,a protease, a lipase and a pectinase; or a mannanase of the invention, aprotease, a lipase and a cutinase; or a mannanase of the invention, aprotease, a lipase and a cellulase; or a mannanase of the invention, aprotease, a lipase and a hemicellulase. A mannanase according to thepresent invention may be combined with any of the enzymes selected fromthe non-exhaustive list comprising: carbohydrases, such as an amylase, ahemicellulase, a pectinase, a cellulase, a xanthanase or a pullulanase,a peptidase, a protease or a lipase.

In a preferred embodiment, a mannanase of the invention is combined witha serine protease, e.g., an S8 family protease such as Savinase®.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a mannanase of theinvention may be combined with one or more metalloproteases, such as anM4 metalloprotease, including Neutrase® or Thermolysin. Suchcombinations may further comprise combinations of the other detergentenzymes as outlined above.

The cleaning process or the textile care process may for example be alaundry process, a dishwashing process or cleaning of hard surfaces suchas bathroom tiles, floors, table tops, drains, sinks and washbasins.Laundry processes can for example be household laundering, but it mayalso be industrial laundering. Furthermore, the invention relates to aprocess for laundering of fabrics and/or garments where the processcomprises treating fabrics with a washing solution containing adetergent composition, and at least one mannanase of the invention. Thecleaning process or a textile care process can for example be carriedout in a machine washing process or in a manual washing process. Thewashing solution can for example be an aqueous washing solutioncontaining a detergent composition.

The fabrics and/or garments subjected to a washing, cleaning or textilecare process of the present invention may be conventional washablelaundry, for example household laundry. Preferably, the major part ofthe laundry is garments and fabrics, including knits, woven, denims,non-woven, felts, yarns, and towelling. The fabrics may be cellulosebased such as natural cellulosics, including cotton, flax, linen, jute,ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g., originating from woodpulp) including viscose/rayon, ramie, cellulose acetate fibers(tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The fabrics may also benon-cellulose based such as natural polyamides including wool, camel,cashmere, mohair, rabit and silk or synthetic polymer such as nylon,aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylen and spandex/elastane, or blendsthereof as well as blend of cellulose based and non-cellulose basedfibers. Examples of blends are blends of cotton and/or rayon/viscosewith one or more companion material such as wool, synthetic fibers(e.g., polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinylalcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyureafibers, aramid fibers), and cellulose-containing fibers (e.g.,rayon/viscose, ramie, flax, linen, jute, cellulose acetate fibers,lyocell).

The last few years there has been an increasing interest in replacingcomponents in detergents, which is derived from petrochemicals withrenewable biological components such as enzymes and polypeptides withoutcompromising the wash performance. When the components of detergentcompositions change new enzyme activities or new enzymes havingalternative and/or improved properties compared to the common useddetergent enzymes such as proteases, lipases and amylases is needed toachieve a similar or improved wash performance when compared to thetraditional detergent compositions.

Typical detergent compositions includes various components in additionto the enzymes, these components have different effects, some componentslike the surfactants lower the surface tension in the detergent, whichallows the stain being cleaned to be lifted and dispersed and thenwashed away, other components like bleach systems removes discolor oftenby oxidation and many bleaches also have strong bactericidal properties,and are used for disinfecting and sterilizing. Yet other components likebuilder and chelator softens, e.g., the wash water by removing the metalions from the liquid.

In a particular embodiment, the invention concerns the use of acomposition comprising a mannanase of the invention, wherein said enzymecomposition further comprises at least one or more of the following asurfactant, a builder, a chelator or chelating agent, bleach system orbleach component in laundry or dish wash.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the amount of a surfactant, abuilder, a chelator or chelating agent, bleach system and/or bleachcomponent are reduced compared to amount of surfactant, builder,chelator or chelating agent, bleach system and/or bleach component usedwithout the added mannanase of the invention. Preferably the at leastone component which is a surfactant, a builder, a chelator or chelatingagent, bleach system and/or bleach component is present in an amountthat is 1% less, such as 2% less, such as 3% less, such as 4% less, suchas 5% less, such as 6% less, such as 7% less, such as 8% less, such as9% less, such as 10% less, such as 15% less, such as 20% less, such as25% less, such as 30% less, such as 35% less, such as 40% less, such as45% less, such as 50% less than the amount of the component in thesystem without the addition of mannanase of the invention, such as aconventional amount of such component. In one aspect, the mannanase ofthe invention is used in detergent compositions wherein said compositionis free of at least one component which is a surfactant, a builder, achelator or chelating agent, bleach system or bleach component and/orpolymer.

Washing Method

The detergent compositions of the present invention are ideally suitedfor use in laundry applications. Accordingly, the present inventionincludes a method for laundering a fabric. The method comprises thesteps of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a cleaning laundrysolution comprising the detergent composition according to theinvention. The fabric may comprise any fabric capable of being launderedin normal consumer use conditions. The solution preferably has a pH offrom about 5.5 to about 8. The compositions may be employed atconcentrations of from about 100 ppm, preferably 500 ppm to about 15,000ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5° C.to about 90° C., including about 10° C., about 15° C., about 20° C.,about 25° C., about 30° C., about 35° C., about 40° C., about 45° C.,about 50° C., about 55° C., about 60° C., about 65° C., about 70° C.,about 75° C., about 80° C., about 85° C. and about 90° C. The water tofabric ratio is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a pH offrom about 5.0 to about 11.5, or in alternative embodiments, even fromabout 6 to about 10.5, such as about 5 to about 11, about 5 to about 10,about 5 to about 9, about 5 to about 8, about 5 to about 7, about 5.5 toabout 11, about 5.5 to about 10, about 5.5 to about 9, about 5.5 toabout 8, about 5.5. to about 7, about 6 to about 11, about 6 to about10, about 6 to about 9, about 6 to about 8, about 6 to about 7, about6.5 to about 11, about 6.5 to about 10, about 6.5 to about 9, about 6.5to about 8, about 6.5 to about 7, about 7 to about 11, about 7 to about10, about 7 to about 9, or about 7 to about 8, preferably about 5.5 toabout 9, and more preferably about 6 to about 8.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a degreeof hardness of from about 0° dH to about 30° dH, such as about 1° dH,about 2° dH, about 3° dH, about 4° dH, about 5° dH, about 6° dH, about7° dH, about 8° dH, about 9° dH, about 10° dH, about 11° dH, about 12°dH, about 13° dH, about 14° dH, about 15° dH, about 16° dH, about 17°dH, about 18° dH, about 19° dH, about 20° dH, about 21° dH, about 22°dH, about 23° dH, about 24° dH, about 25° dH, about 26° dH, about 27°dH, about 28° dH, about 29° dH, about 30° dH. Under typical Europeanwash conditions, the degree of hardness is about 15° dH, under typicalUS wash conditions about 6° dH, and under typical Asian wash conditions,about 3° dH.

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a fabric, adishware or hard surface with a detergent composition comprising amannanase of the invention.

A preferred embodiment concerns a method of cleaning, said methodcomprising the steps of: contacting an object with a cleaningcomposition comprising a mannanase of the invention under conditionssuitable for cleaning said object. In a preferred embodiment thecleaning composition is a detergent composition and the process is alaundry or a dish wash process.

Still another embodiment relates to a method for removing stains fromfabric which comprises contacting said a fabric with a compositioncomprising a mannanase of the invention under conditions suitable forcleaning said object.

Low Temperature Uses

One embodiment of the invention concerns a method of doing laundry, dishwash or industrial cleaning comprising contacting a surface to becleaned with a mannanase of the invention, and wherein said laundry,dish wash, industrial or institutional cleaning is performed at atemperature of about 40° C. or below. One embodiment of the inventionrelates to the use of a mannanase in laundry, dish wash or a cleaningprocess wherein the temperature in laundry, dish wash, industrialcleaning is about 40° C. or below

In another embodiment, the invention concerns the use of a mannanaseaccording to the invention in a protein removing process, wherein thetemperature in the protein removing process is about 40° C. or below.

In each of the above-identified methods and uses, the wash temperatureis about 40° C. or below, such as about 39° C. or below, such as about38° C. or below, such as about 37° C. or below, such as about 36° C. orbelow, such as about 35° C. or below, such as about 34° C. or below,such as about 33° C. or below, such as about 32° C. or below, such asabout 31° C. or below, such as about 30° C. or below, such as about 29°C. or below, such as about 28° C. or below, such as about 27° C. orbelow, such as about 26° C. or below, such as about 25° C. or below,such as about 24° C. or below, such as about 23° C. or below, such asabout 22° C. or below, such as about 21° C. or below, such as about 20°C. or below, such as about 19° C. or below, such as about 18° C. orbelow, such as about 17° C. or below, such as about 16° C. or below,such as about 15° C. or below, such as about 14° C. or below, such asabout 13° C. or below, such as about 12° C. or below, such as about 11°C. or below, such as about 10° C. or below, such as about 9° C. orbelow, such as about 8° C. or below, such as about 7° C. or below, suchas about 6° C. or below, such as about 5° C. or below, such as about 4°C. or below, such as about 3° C. or below, such as about 2° C. or below,such as about 1° C. or below.

In another preferred embodiment, the wash temperature is in the range ofabout 5-40° C., such as about 5-30° C., about 5-20° C., about 5-10° C.,about 10-40° C., about 10-30° C., about 10-20° C., about 15-40° C.,about 15-30° C., about 15-20° C., about 20-40° C., about 20-30° C.,about 25-40° C., about 25-30° C., or about 30-40° C. In particularpreferred embodiments the wash temperature is about 20° C., about 30°C., or about 40° C.

Animal Feed and Animal Feed Additives

The present invention also relates to animal feed and animal feedadditives comprising the mannanase of the invention.

In one aspect, the animal feed or animal feed additive comprises thepolypeptide of aspect one or two and one or more components selectedfrom the list consisting of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

In one aspect, the animal feed or animal feed additive comprises thegranule of aspect five or six and one or more components selected fromthe list consisting of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

In one aspect, the animal feed or animal feed additive comprises theliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight and one or more componentsselected from the list consisting of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

In an embodiment, the animal feed or animal feed additive furthercomprises one or more additional enzymes selected from the groupconsisting of acetylxylan esterase, acylglycerol lipase, amylase,alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, arabinofuranosidase, cellobiohydrolases,cellulase, feruloyl esterase, galactanase, alpha-galactosidase,beta-galactosidase, beta-glucanase, beta-glucosidase, lysophospholipase,lysozyme, alpha-mannosidase, beta-mannosidase (mannanase), phytase,phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, phospholipase D, protease,pullulanase, pectinesterase, triacylglycerol lipase, xylanase,beta-xylosidase or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the animal feed or animal feed additive comprises oneor more microbes selected from the group consisting of Bacillussubtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacilluscereus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus megaterium,Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus circulans, Bifidobacterium bifidum,Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium sp., Carnobacterium sp.,Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium sp., Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus farciminus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillusreuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus sp.,Leuconostoc sp., Megasphaera elsdenii, Megasphaera sp., Pediococsusacidilactici, Pediococcus sp., Propionibacterium thoenii,Propionibacterium sp. and Streptococcus sp. or any combination thereof.

Uses

The mannanases of the invention may be used in applications where mannanneeds to be degraded. Examples of where mannanases could be used are inthe production of bioethanol from softwood and palm kernel press cake,for the improvement of animal feed and in the hydrolysis of coffee.Furthermore, guar gum is used in many food products and in the oil andgas industry, so the mannanases of the invention could be used indetergents to remove mannan containing stains, for hydraulic fracturingto create subterranean fractures that extend from the borehole into rockformation in order to increase the rate at which fluids can be producedby the formation or for cleaning borehole filtercake. The mannan maythus be used in fracturing of a subterranean formation perpetrated by awell bore or the mannan may be used as a component in boreholefiltercake.

In one aspect, the polypeptide of aspect one or two, detergentcomposition of aspect three or four, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight may be used for degradingmannan, such as linear mannan, galactomannan, glucomannan andgalactoglucomannan. In one aspect, the polypeptide of aspect one or two,detergent composition of aspect three or four, granule of aspect five orsix or liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight may be used in aprocess for degrading mannan, such as linear mannan, galactomannan,glucomannan and galactoglucomannan.

In one aspect, the polypeptide of aspect one or two, detergentcomposition of aspect three or four, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight may be used for controllingthe viscosity of drilling fluids. In one aspect, the polypeptide ofaspect one or two, detergent composition of aspect three or four,granule of aspect five or six or liquid formulation of aspect seven oreight may be used in fracturing of a subterranean formation perpetratedby a well bore.

The mannanases of the invention may be used for preventing, reducing orremoving malodor from an item. Thus in one embodiment, the polypeptideof aspect one or two, detergent composition of aspect three or four,granule of aspect five or six or liquid formulation of aspect seven oreight may be used for preventing, reducing or removing malodor from anitem.

Use of Mannanases of the Invention in Preventing, Reducing or Removing aBiofilm

Biofilm can develop on textile when microorganisms are present on anitem and stick together on the item. Some microorganisms tend to adhereto the surface of items such as textiles. Some microorganisms adhere tosuch surfaces and form a biofilm on the surface. The biofilm may besticky and the adhered microorganisms and/or the biofilm may bedifficult to remove. Furthermore, the biofilm adhere soil due to thesticky nature of the biofilm. The commercial laundry detergentcompositions available on the marked do not remove such adheredmicroorganisms or biofilm.

The present invention concerns the use of the polypeptide of aspect oneor two, detergent composition of aspect three or four, granule of aspectfive or six or liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight forpreventing, reducing or removing a biofilm from an item, wherein thepolypeptide is obtained from a fungal source and wherein the item is atextile. In one embodiment, the polypeptide of aspect one or two,detergent composition of aspect three or four, granule of aspect five orsix or liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight is used forpreventing, reducing or removing the stickiness of an item.

Use of Mannanases of the Invention in Food Processing and Animal Feed

Several anti-nutritional factors can limit the use of specific plantmaterial in the preparation of animal feed and food for humans. Forexample, plant material containing oligomannans such as mannan,galactomannan, glucomannan and galactoglucomannan can reduce thedigestibility and absorption of nutritional compounds such as minerals,vitamins, sugars and fats by the animals. The negative effects are inparticular due to the high viscosity of the mannan-containing polymersand to the ability of the mannan-containing polymers to adsorbnutritional compounds. These effects are reduced using mannan-containingpolymers degrading enzymes, namely endo-beta-mannanase enzymes such asthe mannanases described herein, which permit a higher proportion ofmannan-containing polymers containing cheap plant material to beincluded in the feed resulting in a reduction of feed costs.Additionally, through the activity of the mannanases of the invention,mannan-containing polymers are broken down to simpler sugars, which canbe more readily assimilated to provide additional energy. Accordingly,the invention further relates to using the mannanases of the inventionfor processing and/or manufacturing of food or animal feed.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an animal feed compositionand/or animal feed additive composition and/or pet food comprising amannanase of the invention.

The present invention further relates to a method for preparing suchanimal feed composition and/or animal feed additive composition and/orpet food comprising mixing the mannanase of the invention with one ormore animal feed ingredients and/or animal feed additive ingredientsand/or pet food ingredients.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the mannanaseof the invention in the preparation of an animal feed composition and/oranimal feed additive composition and/or pet food.

Use of Mannanases of the Invention for Degrading a Cellulosic Materialand/or Producing a Fermentation Product

The mannan may be used for degrading a cellulosic material, forproducing a fermentation product and for fermenting a cellulosicmaterial e.g., in a process for producing a fermentation product,comprising: (a) saccharifying a cellulosic material with an enzymecomposition, wherein the enzyme composition comprises the polypeptide ofaspect one or two, granule of aspect five or six or liquid formulationof aspect seven or eight; (b) fermenting the saccharified cellulosicmaterial with one or more fermenting microorganisms to produce thefermentation product; and (c) recovering the fermentation product fromthe fermentation. The cellulosic material may be pretreated beforesaccharification. In one embodiment, the enzyme composition comprisesone or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of cellulase, AA9polypeptide, hemicellulase, esterase, expansin, ligninolytic enzyme,oxidoreductase, pectinase, protease, and swollenin.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process of fermentinga cellulosic material, comprising: fermenting the cellulosic materialwith one or more fermenting microorganisms, wherein the cellulosicmaterial is saccharified with an enzyme composition comprising thepolypeptide of aspect one or two, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight. The cellulosic material maybe pretreated before saccharification. In one embodiment, the enzymecomposition comprises one or more enzymes selected from the groupconsisting of cellulase, AA9 polypeptide, hemicellulase, esterase,expansin, ligninolytic enzyme, oxidoreductase, pectinase, protease, andswollenin.

Use of Mannanases of the Invention for Fermented Beverages

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of preparing afermented beverage, such as beer or wine, comprising mixing thepolypeptide of aspect one or two, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight with malt and/or adjunct.

Another aspect concerns a method of providing a fermented beveragecomprising the step of contacting a mash and/or a wort with thepolypeptide of aspect one or two, the granule of aspect five or six orthe liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight.

In the context of the present invention, the term “fermented beverage”is meant to comprise any beverage such as wine or beer produced by amethod comprising a fermentation process, such as a microbial, bacterialand/or yeast fermentation.

In an aspect of the invention the fermented beverage is beer. The term“beer” is meant to comprise any fermented wort produced byfermentation/brewing of a starch-containing plant material. Often, beeris produced from malt or adjunct, or any combination of malt and adjunctas the starch-containing plant material. As used herein the term “malt”is understood as any malted cereal grain, such as malted barley orwheat.

As used herein the term “adjunct” refers to any starch and/or sugarcontaining plant material which is not malt, such as barley or wheatmalt. As examples of adjuncts, mention can be made of materials such ascommon corn grits, refined corn grits, brewer's milled yeast, rice,sorghum, refined corn starch, barley, barley starch, dehusked barley,wheat, wheat starch, torrified cereal, cereal flakes, rye, oats, potato,tapioca, cassava and syrups, such as corn syrup, sugar cane syrup,inverted sugar syrup, barley and/or wheat syrups, and the like may beused as a source of starch

As used herein, the term “mash” refers to an aqueous slurry of anystarch and/or sugar containing plant material such as grist, e. g.comprising crushed barley malt, crushed barley, and/or other adjunct ora combination hereof, mixed with water later to be separated into wortand spent grains.

As used herein, the term “wort” refers to the unfermented liquor run-offfollowing extracting the grist during mashing.

Use of Mannanases of the Invention for Treating Coffee Extracts

The mannanase of the invention may also be used for hydrolyzinggalactomannans present in liquid coffee extracts. In certain preferredembodiments, the mannanase of the invention is used to inhibit gelformation during freeze drying of liquid coffee extracts. The decreasedviscosity of the extract reduces the energy consumption during drying.In certain other preferred embodiments, the mannanase of the inventionis applied in an immobilized form in order to reduce enzyme consumptionand avoid contamination of the coffee extract. This use is furtherdisclosed in EP 676 145.

In general terms the coffee extract is incubated in the presence of anisolated mannanase of the invention or fragment or variant thereof underconditions suitable for hydrolyzing galactomannans present in liquidcoffee extract.

Thus in one embodiment, then invention relates to a process forproducing a coffee extract, comprising the steps:

-   -   (a) providing roast and ground coffee beans;    -   (b) adding to said coffee beans water and the polypeptide of        aspect one or two, granule of aspect five or six or liquid        formulation of aspect seven or eight;    -   (c) incubating to make an aqueous coffee extract; and    -   (d) separating the coffee extract from the extracted coffee        beans.

Use of Mannanase of the Invention in Bakery Food Products

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of preparing bakedproducts comprising adding the polypeptide of aspect one or two, granuleof aspect five or six or liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight toa dough, followed by baking the dough.

Examples of baked products are well known to those skilled in the artand include breads, rolls, puff pastries, sweet fermented doughs, buns,cakes, crackers, cookies, biscuits, waffles, wafers, tortillas,breakfast cereals, extruded products, and the like.

The mannanase of the invention may be added to dough as part of a breadimprover composition. Bread improvers are compositions containing avariety of ingredients, which improve dough properties and the qualityof bakery products, e.g. bread and cakes. Bread improvers are oftenadded in industrial bakery processes because of their beneficial effectse.g. the dough stability and the bread texture and volume. Breadimprovers usually contain fats and oils as well as additives likeemulsifiers, enzymes, antioxidants, oxidants, stabilizers and reducingagents. In addition to the mannanase of the invention, other enzymeswhich may also be present in the bread improver including amylases,hemicellulases, amylolytic complexes, lipases, proteases, xylanases,pectinases, pullulanases, non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymesand redox enzymes like glucose oxidase, lipoxygenase or ascorbic acidoxidase.

In one aspect, the mannanase of the invention may be added to dough aspart of a bread improver composition which also comprises a glucomannanand/or galactomannan source such as konjac gum, guar gum, locust beangum (Ceratonia siliqua), copra meal, ivory nut mannan (Phyteleohasmacrocarpa), seaweed mannan extract, coconut meal, and the cell wall ofbrewers yeast (may be dried, or used in the form of brewers yeastextract).

A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of the mannanase ofthe invention in dough to improve dough tolerance, flexibility andstickiness. Preferably the dough to which the mannanase of the inventionmay be added is not a pure wheat flour dough, but comprises bran or oat,rice, millet, maize, or legume flour in addition to or instead of purewheat flour.

A yet further aspect of the invention relates to the use of any of themannanase of the invention in dough to improve the crumb structure andretard staling in the final baked product, such as bread.

Use of Mannanase of the Invention for Use in Dairy Food Products

In one aspect of the current invention, the mannanase of the inventionmay be added to milk or any other dairy product to which has also beenadded a glucomannan and/or galactomannan. Typical glucomannan and/orgalactomannan sources are listed above in the bakery aspects, andinclude guar or konjac gum. The combination of the mannanase of theinvention with a glucomannan and/or galactomannan releases mannanasehydrolysates (mannooligosaccharides) which act as soluble prebiotics bypromoting the selective growth and proliferation of probiotic bacteria(especially Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus lactic acid bacteria)commonly associated with good health when found at favourable populationdensities in the large intestine or colon.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of preparing milk ordairy products comprising adding to the milk or dairy product (a)glucomannan, galactomannan and/or galactoglucomannan and (b) thepolypeptide of aspect one or two, granule of aspect five or six orliquid formulation of aspect seven or eight.

In one aspect of the invention the mannanase of the invention is used incombination with any glucomannan or galactomannan prior to or followingaddition to a dairy based foodstuff to produce a dairy based foodstuffcomprising prebiotic mannan hydrolysates. In a further aspect of theinvention the thus produced mannooligosacharide-containing dairy productis capable of increasing the population of beneficial human intestinalmicroflora, and in a yet further aspect of the current invention thedairy based foodstuff may comprise the mannanase of the inventiontogether with any source of glucomannan and/or galactomannan and/orgalactoglucomannan, and a dose sufficient for inoculation of at leastone strain of bacteria (such as Bifidobacteria or Lactobacillus) knownto be of benefit in the human large intestine. Preferably saiddairy-based foodstuff is a yoghurt or milk drink.

Use of Mannanase of the Invention for Paper Pulp Bleaching

The mannanase of the invention may further be used in the enzyme aidedbleaching of paper pulps such as chemical pulps, semi-chemical pulps,kraft pulps, mechanical pulps or pulps prepared by the sulfite method.Thus, the invention relates to a method of bleaching paper pulpscomprising incubating the paper pulp with the polypeptide of aspect oneor two, detergent composition of aspect three or four, granule of aspectfive or six or liquid formulation of aspect seven or eight.

In some embodiments, the pulps are chlorine free pulps bleached withoxygen, ozone, peroxide or peroxyacids. In some embodiments, themannanase of the invention is used in enzyme aided bleaching of pulpsproduced by modified or continuous pulping methods that exhibit lowlignin contents. In some other embodiments, the mannanase of theinvention is applied alone or preferably in combination with xylanaseand/or endoglucanase and/or alpha-galactosidase and/or cellobiohydrolaseenzymes.

The invention is further summarized in the below paragraphs:

-   -   1. A polypeptide having mannanase activity, selected from the        group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 91%, e.g., at least 92%,            at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at            least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence            identity to SEQ ID NO: 4;        -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has            mannanase activity and comprises one or more substitutions,            and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or more insertions            or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,            11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,            26, 27, 28 or 29 positions;        -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10            amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   2. The polypeptide of item 1, wherein the polypeptide further        comprises a carbohydrate binding module (CBM).    -   3. The polypeptide of item 2, wherein the carbohydrate binding        module is a family 35 CBM.    -   4. The polypeptide of any of items 2 to 3, wherein the        polypeptide has at least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%,        at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least        96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence        identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   5. The polypeptide of item 1, comprising or consisting of amino        acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID        NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3, the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID        NO: 11.    -   6. A polypeptide having mannanase activity, selected from the        group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 87%, e.g., at least 90%,            at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at            least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at            least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ            ID NO: 11;        -   (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at            least 87%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%,            at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at            least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence            identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID            NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 9;        -   (c) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein the            variant has mannanase activity and comprises one or more            substitutions, and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or            more insertions or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,            6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21,            22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,            37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50            positions;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or            HQ-tag;        -   (e) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to            10 amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a), (b) or (c) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   7. The polypeptide of item 6, comprising or consisting the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of        SEQ ID NO: 3, or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or        amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   8. A composition comprising the polypeptide of any of items 1 to        7.    -   9. The composition comprising the polypeptide of any of items 1        to 7 and one or more components selected from the group        consisting of surfactants, hydrotropes, builders, co-builders,        chelators, bleach components, polymers, fabric hueing agents,        fabric conditioners, foam boosters, suds suppressors,        dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, fluorescent whitening        agents, perfume, optical brighteners, bactericides, fungicides,        soil suspending agents, soil release polymers, anti-redeposition        agents, enzyme inhibitors, enzyme stabilizers, enzyme        activators, antioxidants and solubilizers.    -   10. The composition of any of items 8 to 9 further comprising        one or more additional enzymes.    -   11. The composition of item 19, wherein the additional enzyme is        selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases,        proteases, peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases,        xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases, xanthan lyases,        lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases, laccases,        catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases,        glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,        keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases,        lipoxygenases, ligninases, carrageenases, pullulanases,        tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,        xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases,        polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, other        endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin        methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases, or        any combinations thereof.    -   12. A detergent composition comprising a surfactant and a        polypeptide having mannanase activity, wherein the polypeptide        is selected from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 4;        -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has            mannanase activity and comprises one or more substitutions,            and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or more insertions            or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,            11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,            26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,            41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions;        -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10            amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   13. The detergent composition of item 12, wherein the        polypeptide further comprises a carbohydrate binding module        (CBM).    -   14. The detergent composition of item 13, wherein the        carbohydrate binding module is a family 35 CBM.    -   15. The detergent composition of any of items 13 to 14, wherein        the polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least        90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at        least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least        99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   16. The detergent composition of item 12, comprising or        consisting of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4, the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID        NO: 3, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1        to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   17. A detergent composition comprising a surfactant and a        polypeptide having mannanase activity, wherein the polypeptide        is selected from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11;        -   (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at            least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%,            at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at            least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%            sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence            of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 9;        -   (c) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein the            variant has mannanase activity and comprises one or more            substitutions, and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or            more insertions or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,            6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,            22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,            37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50            positions;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or            HQ-tag;        -   (e) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to            10 amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a), (b) or (c) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   18. The detergent composition of item 17, comprising or        consisting of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino        acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or the mature polypeptide of SEQ        ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   19. The detergent composition of any of items 12 to 18 further        comprising one or more components selected from the group        consisting of hydrotropes, builders, co-builders, chelators,        bleach components, polymers, fabric hueing agents, fabric        conditioners, foam boosters, suds suppressors, dispersants, dye        transfer inhibitors, fluorescent whitening agents, perfume,        optical brighteners, bactericides, fungicides, soil suspending        agents, soil release polymers, anti-redeposition agents, enzyme        inhibitors, enzyme stabilizers, enzyme activators, antioxidants        and solubilizers.    -   20. The detergent composition of any of items 18 to 19 further        comprising one or more additional enzymes.    -   21. The detergent composition of item 20, wherein the additional        enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amylases,        proteases, proteases, peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases,        xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases, xanthan lyases,        lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases, laccases,        catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases,        glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,        keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases,        lipoxygenases, ligninases, carrageenases, pullulanases,        tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,        xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases,        polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, other        endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin        methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases, or        any combinations thereof.    -   22. A granule comprising a core particle and one or more        coatings, wherein the granule comprises a polypeptide having        mannanase activity selected from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 4;        -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has            mannanase activity and comprises one or more substitutions,            and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or more insertions            or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,            11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,            26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,            41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions;        -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10            amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   23. The granule of item 22, wherein the polypeptide further        comprises a carbohydrate binding module (CBM).    -   24. The granule of item 23, wherein the carbohydrate binding        module is a family 35 CBM.    -   25. The granule of any of items 23 to 24, wherein the        polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least 90%,        at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least        95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or        100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3.    -   26. The granule of item 22, comprising or consisting of amino        acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID        NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3, the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID        NO: 11.    -   27. A granule comprising a core particle and one or more        coatings, wherein the granule comprises a polypeptide having        mannanase activity selected from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11;        -   (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at            least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%,            at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at            least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%            sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence            of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 9;        -   (c) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein the            variant has mannanase activity and comprises one or more            substitutions, and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or            more insertions or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,            6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,            22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,            37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50            positions;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or            HQ-tag;        -   (e) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to            10 amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a), (b) or (c) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   28. The granule of item 27, comprising or consisting the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID        NO: 3, or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids        1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   29. The granule of any of items 22 to 28, wherein the coating        comprises a salt and/or wax and/or flour.    -   30. The granule of any of items 22 to 29 further comprising one        or more additional enzymes.    -   31. The granule of item 30, wherein the additional enzyme is        selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases,        proteases, peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases,        xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases, xanthan lyases,        lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases, laccases,        catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases,        glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,        keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases,        lipoxygenases, ligninases, carrageenases, pullulanases,        tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,        xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases,        polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, other        endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin        methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases, or        any combinations thereof.    -   32. A liquid composition comprising a polyol and a polypeptide        having mannanase activity, wherein the polypeptide is selected        from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 4;        -   (b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the variant has            mannanase activity and comprises one or more substitutions,            and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or more insertions            or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,            11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,            26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,            41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions;        -   (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a) or (b)            and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to 10            amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (e) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   33. The liquid composition of item 32, wherein the polypeptide        further comprises a carbohydrate binding module (CBM).    -   34. The liquid composition of item 33, wherein the carbohydrate        binding module is a family 35 CBM.    -   35. The liquid composition of any of items 33 to 34, wherein the        polypeptide has at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least 90%,        at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least        95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or        100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   36. The liquid composition of item 32, comprising or consisting        of amino acids 1 to 330 of SEQ ID NO: 4, the mature polypeptide        of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO: 3, the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or amino acids 1 to 527 of        SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   37. A liquid composition comprising a polyol and a polypeptide        having mannanase activity, wherein the polypeptide is selected        from the group consisting of:        -   (a) a polypeptide having at least 81%, e.g., at least 85%,            at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at            least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at            least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID            NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11;        -   (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at            least 81%, e.g., at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%,            at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at            least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%            sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence            of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 9;        -   (c) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein the            variant has mannanase activity and comprises one or more            substitutions, and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or            more insertions or any combination thereof in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,            6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,            22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,            37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50            positions;        -   (d) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or            HQ-tag;        -   (e) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of (a), (b)            or (c) and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal extension of up to            10 amino acids, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino            acids; and        -   (f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a), (b) or (c) having            mannanase activity and having at least 90% of the length of            the mature polypeptide.    -   38. The liquid composition of item 37, comprising or consisting        the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 1 to 498        of SEQ ID NO: 3, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 10 or        amino acids 1 to 527 of SEQ ID NO: 11.    -   39. The liquid formulation of any of item 32 to 38, wherein the        polypeptide is dosed between 0.0001% to 10% w/w of liquid        formulation.    -   40. The liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 39, wherein the        polyol is dosed between 5% to 80% w/w of liquid formulation.    -   41. The liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 40, wherein the        polyol is selected from the group consisting of glycerol,        sorbitol, propylene glycol (MPG), ethylene glycol, diethylene        glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol or 1,        3-propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol        (PEG) having an average molecular weight below about 600 and        polypropylene glycol (PPG) having an average molecular weight        below about 600 or any combination thereof.    -   42. The liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 41, wherein the        formulation further comprises 0.001% to 2.0% w/w preservative.    -   43. The liquid formulation of item 42, wherein the preservative        is selected from the group consisting of phenoxy ethanol,        1,2-benzisothiazolin-3(2H)-one, sodium sorbate, potassium        sorbate, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate,        methylisothiazolinone, chloro methylisothiazolinone, methyl        parabene, ethyl parabene, propyl parabene, butyl parabene,        quarterary ammonium salts (such as BAC/ADBAC; alkylbenzyl        quarternary ammonium chloride, dioctyldimethylammonium chloride,        didecyldimethylammonium chloride, cetrimonium chloride),        essential oils and organic acids or any combination thereof.    -   44. The liquid composition of any of items 32 to 43 further        comprising one or more additional enzymes.    -   45. The liquid composition of item 44, wherein the additional        enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amylases,        proteases, proteases, peroxidases, cellulases, betaglucanases,        xyloglucanases, hemicellulases, xanthanases, xanthan lyases,        lipases, acyl transferases, phospholipases, esterases, laccases,        catalases, aryl esterases, amylases, alpha-amylases,        glucoamylases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases,        keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases,        lipoxygenases, ligninases, carrageenases, pullulanases,        tannases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,        xyloglucanases, xylanases, pectin acetyl esterases,        polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, other        endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, pectin        methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases and transglutaminases, or        any combinations thereof.    -   46. An animal feed or animal feed additive comprising the        polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of        items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the        liquid composition of any of items 32 to 45 and one or more        components selected from the list consisting of:        -   one or more vitamins;        -   one or more minerals; and        -   one or more amino acids.    -   47. The animal feed or animal feed additive of item 46, wherein        the animal feed or animal feed additive further comprises one or        more additional enzymes selected from the group consisting of        acetylxylan esterase, acylglycerol lipase, amylase,        alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, arabinofuranosidase,        cellobiohydrolases, cellulase, feruloyl esterase, galactanase,        alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucanase,        beta-glucosidase, lysophospholipase, lysozyme,        alpha-mannosidase, beta-mannosidase (mannanase), phytase,        phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, phospholipase D, protease,        pullulanase, pectinesterase, triacylglycerol lipase, xylanase,        beta-xylosidase or any combination thereof.    -   48. The animal feed or animal feed additive of any of items 46        to 47, wherein the animal feed or animal feed additive comprises        one or more microbes selected from the group consisting of        Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus        amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus        polymyxa, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus        circulans, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis,        Bifidobacterium sp., Carnobacterium sp., Clostridium butyricum,        Clostridium sp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus sp.,        Lactobacillus sp., Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus        farciminus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri,        Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus sp.,        Leuconostoc sp., Megasphaera elsdenii, Megasphaera sp.,        Pediococsus acidilactici, Pediococcus sp., Propionibacterium        thoenii, Propionibacterium sp. and Streptococcus sp. or any        combination thereof.    -   49. Use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 for degrading        mannan, such as linear mannan, galactomannan, glucomannan and        galactoglucomannan.    -   50. Use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 for        controlling the viscosity of drilling fluids.    -   51. Use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 for        laundering, washing or cleaning a textile and/or a hard surface        (such as dish wash).    -   52. The use of any of items 49 to 51, wherein the polypeptide        has an enzyme detergency benefit.    -   53. A process for preparing a food or feed composition and/or        food or feed additive, comprising mixing the polypeptide of any        of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of items 8 to 11, the        granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the liquid formulation of        any of items 32 to 45 with one or more food or feed and/or food        or feed additive ingredients.    -   54. The use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items        22 to 31 or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 in        the preparation of a food or feed composition and/or food or        feed additive and/or food or feed stuff.    -   55. A process for degrading mannan, such as linear mannan,        galactomannan, glucomannan and galactoglucomannan, comprising        applying a composition comprising any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 to the        mannan.    -   56. The process of item 55, wherein the mannan is on the surface        of a textile or hard surface, such as dish wash.    -   57. The process of item 55, wherein the mannan is used in        fracturing of a subterranean formation perpetrated by a well        bore.    -   58. The process of item 55, wherein the mannan is a component in        borehole filtercake.    -   59. A process for producing a coffee extract, comprising the        steps:        -   (a) providing roast and ground coffee beans;        -   (b) adding to said coffee beans water and a polypeptide of            any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of items 8 to            11, the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the liquid            formulation of any of items 32 to 45;        -   (c) incubating to make an aqueous coffee extract; and        -   (d) separating the coffee extract from the extracted coffee            beans.    -   60. A process for degrading a cellulosic material, comprising:        treating the cellulosic material with an enzyme composition in        the presence of the polypeptide having mannanase activity of any        of items 1 to 7.    -   61. A process for producing a fermentation product, comprising:        -   (a) saccharifying a cellulosic material with an enzyme            composition, wherein the enzyme composition comprises the            polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any            of items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or            the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45;        -   (b) fermenting the saccharified cellulosic material with one            or more fermenting microorganisms to produce the            fermentation product; and        -   (c) recovering the fermentation product from the            fermentation.    -   62. The process of any of items 60 or 61, wherein the cellulosic        material is pretreated.    -   63. The process of any of items 60 to 62, wherein the enzyme        composition comprises one or more enzymes selected from the        group consisting of cellulase, AA9 polypeptide, hemicellulase,        esterase, expansin, ligninolytic enzyme, oxidoreductase,        pectinase, protease, and swollenin.    -   64. A process of fermenting a cellulosic material, comprising:        fermenting the cellulosic material with one or more fermenting        microorganisms, wherein the cellulosic material is saccharified        with an enzyme composition, wherein the enzyme composition        comprises the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items        22 to 31 or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45.    -   65. The process of item 64, wherein the cellulosic material is        pretreated before saccharification.    -   66. The process of any of items 64 to 65, wherein the enzyme        composition comprises one or more enzymes selected from the        group consisting of cellulase, AA9 polypeptide, hemicellulase,        esterase, expansin, ligninolytic enzyme, oxidoreductase,        pectinase, protease, and swollenin.    -   67. A polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of any of items 1        to 7.    -   68. A nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising the        polynucleotide of item 67 operably linked to one or more control        sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in an        expression host.    -   69. A recombinant host cell comprising the polynucleotide of        item 67 operably linked to one or more control sequences that        direct the production of the polypeptide.    -   70. A process of producing the polypeptide of any of items 1 to        7, comprising:        -   (a) cultivating a cell, which in its wild-type form produces            the polypeptide, under conditions conductive for production            of the polypeptide; and        -   (b) recovering the polypeptide.    -   71. A process of producing the polypeptide of any of items 1 to        7, comprising:        -   (a) cultivating the host cell of item 46 under conditions            conducive for production of the polypeptide; and        -   (b) recovering the polypeptide.    -   72. A transgenic plant, plant part or plant cell transformed        with a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of any of items 1        to 7.    -   73. A whole broth formulation or cell culture composition        comprising a polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7.    -   74. Use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 for        preventing, reducing or removing a biofilm from an item.    -   75. Use of the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 for        preventing, reducing or removing malodor from an item.    -   76. A method of preparing a fermented beverage comprising mixing        the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any        of items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the        liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 with malt and/or        adjunct.    -   77. A method of preparing a fermented beverage comprising        contacting a mash and/or a wort with the polypeptide of any of        items 1 to 7, the composition of any of items 8 to 11, the        granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the liquid formulation of        any of items 32 to 45.    -   78. The process of any of items 76 to 77, wherein the fermented        beverage is a wine or a beer.    -   79. A method of preparing baked products comprising mixing the        polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of        items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the        liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 to a dough, followed        by baking the dough.    -   80. A method to improve dough tolerance, flexibility and/or        stickiness of a dough comprising mixing the polypeptide of any        of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of items 8 to 11, the        granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the liquid formulation of        any of items 32 to 45 to the dough.    -   81. A method to improve the crumb structure and retard staling        in the final baked product comprising mixing the polypeptide of        any of items 1 to 7, the composition of any of items 8 to 11,        the granule of any of items 22 to 31 or the liquid formulation        of any of items 32 to 45 to the dough, followed by baking the        dough.    -   82. A method of preparing milk or dairy products comprising        adding to the milk or dairy product        -   (a) glucomannan, galactomannan and/or galactoglucomannan;            and        -   (b) the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the composition            of any of items 8 to 11, the granule of any of items 22 to            31 or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45.    -   83. A method of bleaching paper pulps comprising incubating the        paper pulp with the polypeptide of any of items 1 to 7, the        composition of any of items 8 to 11, the detergent composition        of any of items 12 to 21, the granule of any of items 22 to 31        or the liquid formulation of any of items 32 to 45 to the dough.

The present invention is further described by the following examplesthat should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Strains

The DNA encoding the GH26 mannanase genes was isolated fromPaenibacillus woosongensis isolated from soil samples collected inDenmark on or before 2007.

Chromosomal DNA from the strain was subjected to full genome sequencingusing Illumina technology. The genome sequence was analyzed for proteinsequences that had glycosyl hydrolase family 26 domains (according tothe CAZY definition) and the GH26 mannanase gene was identified in thegenome.

Materials

Chemicals used as buffers and substrates were commercial products of atleast reagent grade.

Example 1: Reducing End Assay

For estimating the mannose yield after substrate hydrolysis, a reducingend assay developed by Lever (1972), Anal. Biochem. 47: 273-279, wasused. The assay is based on 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide, which underalkaline conditions reacts with the reducing ends of saccharides. Theproduct is a strong yellow anion, which absorbs at 410 nm.

Method

4-Hydroxybenzhydrazide (PAHBAH) (Sigma,H9882) was diluted in PAHBAHbuffer to a concentration of 15 mg/ml. PAHBAH buffer contained: 50 g/LK-Na-tartrate (Merck, 1.08087) and 20 g/L sodium hydroxide(Sigma,S8045).This PAHBAH mix was made just before usage.

70 μl PAHBAH mix and MiliQ water were mixed in a 96 well PCR plate(Thermo Scientific). Samples from hydrolysis experiment were added.Samples and MiliQ always reached the total volume of 150 μl, but thedilution of the sample differed. The plate was sealed with Adhesive PCRSealing Foil Sheets (Thermo Scientific). Plates were incubated at 95° C.for 10 min, cooled down and kept at 10° C. for 1 min in PTC-200 ThermalCycler (MJ Research). 100 μl sample was transferred to a 96 wellmicrotiter plate, flat bottomed (Nunc™) and color development measuredat 405 nm on a SpectraMax 190 Absorbance Microplate Reader (MolecularDevices). Results were compared to mannose standards, that had undergonethe same treatment and dilution as the samples to which they werecompared.

Example 2: Cloning and Expression of GH26 Beta-1,4-Mannanases fromPaenibacillus Woosongensis

The gene encoding the GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis(SEQ ID NO: 1) was expressed both as a full-length version including theGH26 domain and a CBM35 domain and as a truncated version without theCBM35 domain. Both versions were expressed as intracellular enzymes witha 6×His tag added directly on the C-terminal of the proteins. Theconstructs were made as linear integration constructs where the geneswere fused by PCR between two Bacillus subtilis homologous chromosomalregions along with a strong promoter and a chloramphenicol resistancemarker. The fusion was made by SOE PCR (Horton, R. M., Hunt, H. D., Ho,S. N., Pullen, J. K. and Pease, L. R. (1989) Engineering hybrid geneswithout the use of restriction enzymes, gene splicing by overlapextension Gene 77: 61-68). The SOE PCR method is also described inpatent application WO 2003095658. The genes were expressed under thecontrol of a triple promoter system (as described in WO 99/43835),consisting of the promoters from Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylasegene (amyL), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), andthe Bacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA promoter including stabilizingsequence. The linear PCR constructs where transformed into Bacillussubtilis. Transformants were selected on LB plates supplemented with 6μg of chloramphenicol per ml. A recombinant Bacillus subtilis clone fromeach construct containing the integrated expression construct wascultivated in 3 L flasks containing 500 ml yeast extract-based medium at30° C. for 3 days with shaking at 250 rpm. Each of the culture brothswere centrifuged at 20,000×g for 20 minutes and the supernatants werecarefully decanted from the pelleted material. Each supernatant wasfiltered using a filtration unit equipped with a 0.2 μm filter (Nalgene)to remove any cellular debris. The enzymes were purified from thefiltered supernatant as described in Example 3. The gene encoding theGH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus ihumii (SEQ ID NO: 9) was expressed byreplacing the genes native secretion signal with a Bacillus clausiisecretion signal (with the following amino acid sequence:MKKPLGKIVASTALLISVAFSSSIASA, SEQ ID NO: 14) and a HPHPHPHP (SEQ ID NO:15)-tag was added directly on the C-terminal of the protein. Theconstruct, the transformation, cultivation and harvest of the enzymecontaining supernatant were done as described above for the GH26mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis.

Example 3: Purification of GH26 Mannanases

The two recombinant expressed GH26 mannanases were purified in thefollowing way: The pH of the supernatant was adjusted to pH 8 with 3 MTris, left for 1 hour, and then filtered using a filtration unitequipped with a 0.2 μm filter (Nalgene). The filtered supernatant wasapplied to a 5 ml HisTrap™ Excel column (GE Healthcare Life Sciences)pre-equilibrated with 5 column volumes (CV) of 50 mM Tris/HCl pH 8.Unbound protein was eluted by washing the column with 8 CV of 50 mMTris/HCl pH 8. The mannanase was eluted with 50 mM HEPES pH 7-10 mMimidazole and elution was monitored by absorbance at 280 nm. The elutedmannanase was desalted on a HiPrep™ 26/10 desalting column (GEHealthcare Life Sciences) pre-equilibrated with 3 CV of 50 mM HEPES pH7-100 mM NaCl. The mannanase was eluted from the column using the samebuffer at a flow rate of 10 ml/minute. Relevant fractions were selectedand pooled based on the chromatogram and SDS-PAGE analysis using 4-12%Bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen) and 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES)SDS-PAGE running buffer (Invitrogen). The gel was stained withInstantBlue (Novexin) and destained using miliQ water. The concentrationof the purified enzymes was determined by absorbance at 280 nm to givethe concentration of the Paenibacillus woosongensis full lengthmannanase (SEQ ID NO: 6), the Paenibacillus woosongensis truncatedmannanase (SEQ ID NO: 8), and the Paenibacillus ihumii mannanase (SEQ IDNO: 13).

Characteristics for the GH26 Mannanase (Amino Acids SEQ ID NO: 6)

The N-terminal sequence determined by EDMAN degradation: MNMEGTP (SEQ IDNO: 16). The sample was heterogeneous with 2 other sequences, NMEGTPS(SEQ ID NO: 17) and MEGTPSV (SEQ ID NO: 18), also being detected.

The Molecular Weight Determined by Intact Molecular Weight Analysis was56577.ODa.

The mature sequence (from EDMAN N-terminal sequencing data and Intact MSdata):

MNMEGTPSVSPTNSITVTFANAVLEGYGIEKRGSVKEDDDTLYDGEGYISYFFDEIGGAAEPVGSAAFTVDAAKAGLYELSLGYYIPEGYGDKVTRIQINGEGTGELTLDAPAAGTVRAEKMVSKVLLNAGSNTIQIMRGWGYYGIEHIKLAPANEAPPSNKLNAEDSIRTGTLNNPEATAEARALMNYLLSQYGQKIISGQQTLEDVEWIKQQTGKYPAIFSTDLMDYSPSRVDHGASSTEVEKMIEWYKRGGIVSLCWHWNAPKGIGGNEPGNEWWRGFYTEFTTFDVEYALNHPDSEDYQLLIRDIDAIAVQLKRLQEANVPVLWRPLHEAEGTWFWWGAKGPEPAKQLYRLMYDRLTNDHKLNNLIWWWNSEKKDWYPGDDVVDMVSVDIYNPAGDYNPSIAKYEALVSLADNKKMAALAENGPIPDPDALQEYGADWSFFSTWTGDYIRDGKTNTIEHLKKVYQHDYVITLDELPA DCTPILMIRQRMVNQQGHHHHHH(amino acids 1-504 of SEQ ID NO: 6)

The calculated molecular weight from this mature sequence is 56579.6 Da

Example 4: Preparation of Fenugreek Gum

Fenugreek gum was extracted according to a modified procedure (Brummer,Y. et al. Food Hydrocolloids 2003, 17, 229-236).

124 g Ground fenugreek seeds, purchased in the local supermarket, butalso available online, were extracted with 70° C. warm heptane (880 mL)for 60 min. to remove non-polar lipids. After suction filtration theresidue was extracted at 60° C. with 96% ethanol (760 mL) for 150 min.to remove polar lipids. After suction filtration the residue wassuspended in 1,200 g 60:40 (w/w: 720:480 g) ethanol:water mixture andstirred for 60 min. at ambient temperature to remove sugars and salts.After suction filtration, the residue was left to dry overnight atambient temperature.

Fenugreek galactomannan was extracted from 50.0 g of the defattedFenugreeks seeds in 1,700 g ion-exchanged water at 5-10° C. for 120 min.The resulting slurry was centrifuged (14,000 g for 20 min). Thesupernatant was precipitated in 96% ethanol to a final concentration of50% (w/w). The resulting coagulum was pressed in suspended in 96%ethanol to facilitate water removal. Hereafter the resulting fibers weredried over night at ambient temperature. The overall yield was 18%.

Example 5: Substrate Specificity of GH26 Mannanases

Fenugreek gum and guar gum are galactomannans. Fenugreek gum is the mostsubstituted galactomannan and was prepared as described in example 4.Guar gum is less substituted and was purchased from Megazyme, USA.

2.5 mg/mL solutions of galactomannans were prepared in a phosphatebuffer, pH 7.5 and incubated for 30 min at 30° C. with 0.25 mg/Lmannanase or without enzyme (blank). Mannaway is a commerciallyavailable mannanase available from Novozymes A/S (Bagsvaerd, Denmark).The reducing ends were then measured as described in example 1.

The difference in optical density at 405 nm (ΔOD) was calculated bysubtracting the blank sample (no added enzyme, i.e. pure galactomannansolution incubated for 30 min at 30° C.) and the data is presented intable 1 below.

TABLE 1 Reducing ends released from different substrates GH26 mannanasefrom Substrate Mannaway Paenibacillus woosongensis Fenugreek gum −0.010.31 Guar gum 0.17 0.46

The GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis (SEQ ID NO: 6) wassuperior at hydrolyzing fenugreek and guar gum compared to thecommercial product Mannaway.

Example 6: Wash Performance of the GH26 Mannanase Using AMSA

The wash performance in laundry washing is assessed using the AutomaticMechanical Stress Assay (AMSA). With the AMSA, the wash performance of alarge quantity of small volume enzyme-detergent solutions can beexamined. The AMSA plate has a number of slots for test solutions and alid firmly squeezing the laundry sample, the textile to be washedagainst all the slot openings. During the washing time, the plate, testsolutions, textile and lid are vigorously shaken to bring the testsolution in contact with the textile and apply mechanical stress in aregular, periodic oscillating manner.

The wash performance is measured as the brightness of the colour of thetextile washed. Brightness can also be expressed as the intensity of thelight reflected from the sample when illuminated with white light. Whenthe sample is stained the intensity of the reflected light is lower,than that of a clean sample. Therefore, the intensity of the reflectedlight can be used to measure wash performance.

Colour measurements are made with a professional flatbed scanner (KodakiQsmart, Kodak, Midtager 29, DK-2605 Brondby, Denmark), which is used tocapture an image of the washed textile.

To extract a value for the light intensity from the scanned images,24-bit pixel values from the image are converted into values for red,green and blue (RGB). The intensity value (Int) is calculated by addingthe RGB values together as vectors and then taking the length of theresulting vector:

Int=√{square root over (r²+g²+b²)}

The experiments were conducted as described in the Automatic MechanicalStress Assay (AMSA) for laundry method using a 1 cycle wash procedureand the experimental conditions specified in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Conditions for AMSA Washing Trial Test Solution Model Bdetergent 1 g/L Model T detergent 1.6 g/L Test solution volume 160 μL PHModel B, pH unadjusted (measured to be 7.8). Model T, pH unadjusted(measured to be 9.7) Wash time 20 minutes Temperature 20° C. or 40° C.Water hardness 15° dH Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃ ²⁻ ratio 4:1:7.5

The composition of Model T detergent is given in table 3 and Model Bdetergent is given in table 4.

TABLE 3 Model T detergent composition Ingredient Weight (abbreviation)Explanation % LAS alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid, sodium salt 11.72 ASsodium alkyl sulfafe, sodium salt 1.97 Soap 2.15 AEO alcohol ethoxylate3.33 Sodium carbonate 14.97 Sodium (di)silicate 3.12 Zeolite 4A + PCAzeolite 4A + copoly(acrylic acid/maleic acid), 20.38 sodium salt HEDP1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid), 0.15 tetrasodium salt;tetrasodium etidronate Sodium citrate 2.00 CPP copolymerpolyether/polyester 0.51 Sodium sulfate 38.70 Silicone 1.00

TABLE 4 Model B detergent composition Ingredient Weight (abbreviation)Explanation % LAS (C10-C13)alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid 7.20 SLES sodiumlauryl ether sulfate 10.58 Soy soap 2.75 Coco soap 2.75 AEO alcoholethoxylate 6.60 NaOH Sodium hydroxide 1.05 Ethanol 2.70 Isopropanol 0.30MPG monopropylene glycol 6.00 Glycerol 1.71 TEA triethanolamine 3.33Sodium formate 1.00 Sodium citrate 2.00 DTMPAdiethylenetriaminepentakis(methylene)pentakis 0.48 (phosphonic acid),heptasodium salt PCA polycarboxylic acid type polymer, sodium salt 0.46Phenoxyethanol 0.50 Ion exchanged 50.59 water

Water hardness was adjusted by addition of CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and NaHCO₃ tothe test system. After washing the textiles were flushed in tap waterand air-dried. Two types of swatch were used; these are commercial testmaterials, C-S-43, Guar gum with carbon black on cotton and C-S-73,Locust bean gum with carbon black on cotton, available from Center forTestmaterials BV, Stoomloggerweg 11, 3133 KT Vlaardingen, theNetherlands.

Results are presented in tables 5 to 8 for two doses of each enzyme attwo different temperatures and two different detergent compositions.Each number is the delta intensity (ΔInt) calculated by subtractingeither the detergent blank. Each measurement is the average of minimum 2separate wells in the AMSA set up

TABLE 5 AMSA wash results in model detergent B on Guar gum swatch C-S-43at 20° C. Enzyme Delta intensity (Δlnt) (mg enzyme protein/L) MannawaySEQ ID NO: 6 0.05 8 15 0.25 9 19

TABLE 6 AMSA wash results in model detergent B on Guar gum swatch C-S-43at 40° C. Enzyme Delta intensity (Δlnt) (mg enzyme protein/L) MannawaySEQ ID NO: 6 0.05 11 15 0.25 15 19

TABLE 7 AMSA wash results in model detergent T on Guar gum swatch C-S-43at 20° C. Enzyme Delta intensity (Δlnt) (mg enzyme protein/L) MannawaySEQ ID NO: 6 0.05 5 12 0.25 11 18

TABLE 8 AMSA wash results in model detergent T on Guar gum swatch C-S-43at 40° C. Enzyme Delta intensity (Δlnt) (mg enzyme protein/L) MannawaySEQ ID NO: 6 0.05 6 8 0.25 12 15

The full length GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis (SEQ IDNO: 6) was superior at removing the guar gum at both 20° C. and 40° C.,performing up to twice as well as the commercial enzyme Mannaway inmodel detergent B as well as model detergent T.

Example 7: Wash Performance of the GH26 Mannanase Using Terg-O-TometerWashing Trial

The terg-o-tometer is an industry standard. 1 L of wash solution isincubated in a water bath temperature controlled environment. Thesolution was mixed for 5 min before adding 1 L to each of the beakers.The temperature in the beakers was measured to be 20.0° C. The washedand rinsed swatches were left to dry overnight in a drying cabinet, andmeasured as indicated in table 9 below.

TABLE 9 Conditions for Terg-O-tometer Washing Trial Test Solution ModelB detergent 1 g/L Test solution volume 1 L pH Model B unadjusted Washtime 30 minutes Temperature 20° C. Water hardness 15° dH Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃²⁻ ratio 4:1:7.5 Mechanical action 120 rpm Enzyme dose 0.05 mg/L

Here, the stains used were a combination of food and technical stainsprovided by Center for Testmaterials BV, Stoomloggerweg 11, 3133 KTVlaardingen, the Netherlands (see table 10).

TABLE 10 Stains used for the Terg-o-tometer washing trials MaterialSource KC-H033 Chocolate Ice Cream with Guar Gum CFT C-S-43 Guar Gum CFTC-S-73 Locust Bean Gum CFT

Wash performance is expressed as a delta remission value (ΔRem). Afterwashing and rinsing the swatches were spread out flat and allowed to airdry at room temperature overnight. Light reflectance evaluations of theswatches were done using a Macbeth Color Eye 7000 reflectancespectrophotometer with large aperture. The measurements were madewithout UV in the incident light and remission at 460 nm was extracted.The dry swatches were measured with ColorEye 2. Measurement with smallaperture through 3 layers (3 of the same type of swatch from the samebeaker), 2 measurements on each swatch on the front side marked withbeaker and swatch number. Remission values for individual swatches werecalculated by subtracting the remission value of the control swatch fromthe remission value of the washed swatch. Calculating the enzyme effectwas done by taking the measurements from washed swatches with enzymesand subtract with the measurements from washed without enzyme for eachstain. The total enzyme performance was calculated as the average ofindividual ΔRem_(enzyme) and is shown in table 11 below.

TABLE 11 Terg-o-tometer Wash results Stain Mannaway SEQ ID NO: 6 KC-H033Vienetta 9 9 C-S-43 Guar Gum 4 8 C-S-73 Locust Bean Gum 9 9

The full length GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis (SEQ IDNO: 6) performed as well as the commercial enzyme Mannaway for theVienetta and locust bean gum stain and was superior at removing the guargum stain, performing twice as well as Mannaway.

Example 8: Wash Performance of the GH26 Mannanases Using AMSA

The experiments were conducted as described in example 6 and theexperimental conditions specified in table 12.

TABLE 12 Conditions for AMSA Washing Trial Test Solution Model Odetergent 2 g/L Test solution volume 160 μL pH Model O, pH unadjustedEnzyme concentration 0.25 mg/L Wash time 20 minutes Temperature 20° C.Water hardness 15° dH Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃ ²⁻ ratio 4:1:7.5

The composition of Model 0 detergent is given in table 13. Results arepresented in table 14.

TABLE 13 Model O detergent composition Ingredient Weight (abbreviation)Explanation % LAS sodium (C10-C13)alkylbenzene- 4.00 sulfonic acid SLESsodium lauryl ether sulfate 8.00 Soy soap 1.00 AEO alcohol ethoxylate4.00 TEA triethanolamine 0.40 Sodium citrate trisodium citrate dihydrate2.00 Calcium chloride calcium chloride dihydrate 0.02 Ion exchangedwater 80.58

TABLE 14 AMSA wash results in model O detergent on Guar gum swatchC-S-43 Delta intensity (Δlnt) Mannaway SEQ ID NO: 13 10 19

The full length GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus ihumii (SEQ ID NO: 13)was superior at removing guar gum, performing almost twice as well asthe commercial enzyme Mannaway.

Example 9: Wash Performance of GH26 Mannanases Using Terg-O-TometerWashing Trial

The experiments were conducted as described in example 7 and theexperimental conditions specified in table 15.

TABLE 15 Conditions for Terg-O-tometer Washing Trial Test Solution ModelA detergent 3.3 g/L Test solution volume 1 L pH Model A unadjusted Washtime 30 minutes Temperature 20° C. Water hardness 15° dH Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃²⁻ ratio 4:1:7.5 Mechanical action 120 rpm Enzyme dose 0.6 mg/L

The composition of Model A detergent is given in table 16. Results arepresented in table 17.

TABLE 16 Model A detergent composition Ingredient (abbreviation)Explanation Wt % LAS (C10-C13)alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid 12.00 SLESsodium lauryl ether sulfate 17.63 Soy soap 2.75 Coco soap 2.75 AEOalcohol ethoxylate 11.00 NaOH Sodium hydroxide 1.75 Ethanol 2.70Isopropanol 0.30 MPG monopropylene glycol 6.00 Glycerol 1.71 TEAtriethanolamine 3.33 Sodium formate 1.00 Sodium citrate 2.00 DTMPAdiethylenetriaminepentakis(methylene)pentakis 0.48 (phosphonic acid),heptasodium salt PCA polycarboxylic acid type polymer, sodium salt 0.46Phenoxyethanol 0.50 Ion exchanged water 33.64

TABLE 17 Terg-o-tometer Wash results in model A detergent on Guar gumswatch C-S-43 Delta remission (ΔRem_(enzyme)) Mannaway SEQ ID NO: 6 SEQID NO: 8 11.5 16.8 15.2

Both the full length (SEQ ID NO: 6) as well as the truncated (SEQ ID NO:8) GH26 mannanase from Paenibacillus woosongensis are superior atremoving guar gum relative to the commercial enzyme Mannaway.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scopeby the specific aspects herein disclosed, since these aspects areintended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Anyequivalent aspects are intended to be within the scope of thisinvention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition tothose shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilledin the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are alsointended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case ofconflict, the present disclosure including definitions will control.

1.-16. (canceled)
 17. A process for degrading mannan, such as linearmannan, galactomannan, glucomannan and galactoglucomannan, comprisingapplying a polypeptide having mannanase activity, which has at least 91%and less than 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, or a variant orfragment thereof to the mannan.
 18. The detergent composition of claim17, wherein the polypeptide has at least 93% sequence identity to SEQ IDNO:
 4. 19. The detergent composition of claim 17, wherein thepolypeptide has at least 94% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 20. Thedetergent composition of claim 17, wherein the polypeptide has at least95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 21. The detergent composition ofclaim 17, wherein the polypeptide has at least 96% sequence identity toSEQ ID NO:
 4. 22. The detergent composition of claim 17, wherein thepolypeptide has at least 97% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 23. Thedetergent composition of claim 17, wherein the polypeptide has at least98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 24. The detergent composition ofclaim 17, wherein the polypeptide has at least 99% sequence identity toSEQ ID NO:
 4. 25. A process for producing a coffee extract, comprisingthe steps: (a) providing roast and ground coffee beans; (b) adding tosaid coffee beans water and a polypeptide having mannanase activity,which has at least 91% and less than 100% sequence identity to SEQ IDNO: 4, or a variant or fragment thereof; (c) incubating to make anaqueous coffee extract; and (d) separating the coffee extract from theextracted coffee beans.
 26. The detergent composition of claim 25,wherein the polypeptide has at least 93% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:4.
 27. The detergent composition of claim 25, wherein the polypeptidehas at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 28. The detergentcomposition of claim 25, wherein the polypeptide has at least 97%sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 29. The detergent composition ofclaim 25, wherein the polypeptide has at least 99% sequence identity toSEQ ID NO:
 4. 30. A process for degrading a cellulosic material,comprising: treating the cellulosic material with an enzyme compositionin the presence of a polypeptide having mannanase activity, which has atleast 91% and less than 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, or avariant or fragment thereof.
 31. The detergent composition of claim 27,wherein the polypeptide has at least 93% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:4.
 32. The detergent composition of claim 27, wherein the polypeptidehas at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 33. The detergentcomposition of claim 27, wherein the polypeptide has at least 97%sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 34. The detergent composition ofclaim 27, wherein the polypeptide has at least 99% sequence identity toSEQ ID NO: 4.